News Article
08 September 2010
Birmingham Children’s Hospital bereavement officer sentenced for NHS fraud
Immediate release – Wednesday 8 September, 2010
A bereavement officer for parents at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, who defrauded her employer of nearly £26,000, has been sentenced to a 12 month supervision order after an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (Birmingham Crown Court, Tuesday 7 September, 2010).
Angolia Depew, 49, of Chatterton Avenue, Lichfield, did not work all of her contracted hours, despite receiving full payment. Over a two year period, between March 2007 and April 2009, she was paid for a 37.5 hour week while only working around 30 hours a week.
Depew pleaded guilty to the offence of dishonestly failing to disclose information to Birmingham Children's NHS Foundation Trust, contrary to Section 3 of the Fraud Act 2006.
Depew was responsible for the support and advice to bereaved parents. She started her Band 7 job, which included some responsibilities for managing staff, in 2003.
Hospital managers received a tipoff that she had not been working all her contracted hours. When questioned, Depew maintained she had worked her full hours, but swipe card records proved otherwise.
In two interviews under caution in July and September of 2009 she made partial admissions and agreed that she had acted dishonestly. The Birmingham Children's NHS Foundation Trust held an internal disciplinary hearing in October 2009, where she was dismissed for gross misconduct.
Malcolm Taylor, West Midlands Operational Fraud Manager for the NHS Counter Fraud Service, said today:
“Depew was employed by the Trust in a role that required her to provide support and advice to bereaved parents. Dealing with people at their most vulnerable, this was obviously a position that required integrity. She abused her position of trust by knowingly being paid for hours that she had not worked for two years. The outcome at court today will deter others from exploiting the NHS in similar ways. The NHS Counter Fraud Service encourages anybody who suspects fraud against the NHS to report it to us. Wherever appropriate, we will investigate, pressing for prosecution and the strongest sanctions.”
-ENDS-
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 at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/CounterFraud.aspx
Notes to Editors
1. In April this year a Bereavement Adviser for University Hospitals Leicester was jailed for five years after being investigated by the NHS Counter Fraud Service and Leicestershire Police. Yvette Adams defrauded deceased patients’ heirs of £753,000.
2.The 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.
3. Around 300 professionally-trained and accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialists are in place covering every health body in England and Wales.
4. The value of fraud and unlawful action identified in 2009/10 was £10,951,069.
5. In 2009-10 the NHS CFS successfully prosecuted 65 criminal cases.
6. To report any incident of suspected fraud in the NHS, please call the Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60 or report online at www.reportnhsfraud.nhs.uk