News Article
17 July 2009
The manager of a Watford recruitment agency for locum chiropodists and podiatrists was today sentenced to 5 months in prison for defrauding Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust of over £26,000, following an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (St Albans Crown Court, 17th July 2009).
Footcare+ Recruitment Ltd was paid to provide care for Derbyshire NHS patients. But its employee Shreya Shah of Kenton, Middlesex, falsely completed timesheets for one locum such that he was paid over £26,000 for work he never did, between January 2006 and August 2007. The trust was invoiced over £34,000 for his services including the agency’s fee.
Shah, who is not known to have benefited financially from these actions, was found guilty of cheating the public revenue on 26th June 2009 after a four week trial. She had earlier pleaded not guilty. Her co-defendant was acquitted.
NHS Counter Fraud Specialists checked through records in numerous clinics in the Derby area to establish that Shah had submitted false timesheets on a large scale for the locum concerned.
Hertfordshire Police Fraud Squad arrested her on Tuesday 16th October 2007.
In summing up, His Honour Judge Warner commented: “It was deliberate, systematic and premeditated, resulting in the loss of precious resources to the NHS.” He described Shah as “intelligent, manipulative and instrumental in obtaining a considerable amount of money from the NHS.”
Amanda Foster of the NHS Counter Fraud Service (East Midlands) said: “This outcome shows the serious consequences when an individual defrauds the public purse. The NHS Counter Fraud Service is here to protect valuable NHS funds and will continue to take action against anyone who believes they can steal money from the NHS."
For more information contact James Robertson or Daryl Barrett at the NHS CFS press office on 020 7895 4524/ 4523. Out of hours mobile 07717 851 926
Further information on NHS CFS can be found at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/CounterFraud.aspx
Notes to Editors
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1. NHS Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS) - a service of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) - was established to tackle fraud and corruption throughout the NHS and Department of Health whether it involves professionals, staff, patients or contractors. It aims to create a lasting anti-fraud culture.
2. Around 319 professionally-trained and accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialists are in place covering every health body in England and Wales.
3.The NHS Counter Fraud Service has a network of teams who deal with complex, high value and cross boundary NHS frauds. In 2007-08 NHS CFS saved the NHS £7,565,014
4. In 2007-08 the NHS CFS successfully prosecuted 57 criminal cases with a 96% success rate.
5. To report any incident of suspected fraud in the NHS, please call the Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60.