Counter Fraud

Fraud is estimated to cost the NHS over a billion pounds a year that could have been spent on patient care, so everyone has a duty to help prevent it. NHS Fraud may be committed by staff, patients, and suppliers of goods/services to the NHS.

As a Trust we are committed to deterring and detecting all instances of fraud, bribery and corruption within the Trust, as far as possible, and ensuring that losses are reduced to an absolute minimum, ensuring valuable public resources are used for their intended purpose of delivering the best possible care and patient experience.

The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) provides the national framework through which NHS trusts seek to minimise losses through fraud. We follow the guidance contained in the NHS Counter Fraud Functional Standard and ensure our contractual obligations with our local Integrated Care Board (formerly local Clinical Commissioning Group) are adhered to.

The Director of Finance and Information has executive responsibility for counter fraud activity within the Trust and is supported by the Trust’s Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS). We also have a Counter Fraud Champion, and Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, who are nominated to the NHSCFA. The role of the Counter Fraud Champion is to strengthen counter fraud work by supporting the LCFS in the work they do.

We have a collaborative counter fraud arrangement with four other local NHS trusts, which means we have a dedicated LCFS providing a shared service between ourselves and another local trust. The LCFS is supported by a small team of counter fraud specialists dedicated to combatting fraud within both community and secondary care settings.

The Trust has a Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption and Code of Conduct Policy Handbook, which contains our Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy and Response Plan, Anti-Bribery Policy and associated guidance, as well as the Standards of Business Conduct Policy. The handbook provides a framework for responding to suspicions of fraud and provides advice and information on various aspects of fraud investigations. The handbook also details staff requirements in relation to gifts, hospitality, conflicts of interest and outside employment.

An annual work plan, approved by the Director of Finance and Information, with oversight from the Trust’s Audit Committee, has been in place. The key aims are to seek to proactively create an anti-fraud culture, implement appropriate deterrents and preventative controls and ensure that allegations of fraud are appropriately and professionally investigated to a criminal standard. Progress reports on all aspects of counter fraud work and details of investigations are received at each meeting of the Trust’s Audit Committee.

In addition to continuing to raise awareness of fraud against the NHS throughout the year, in November 2022 we also held a Fraud Awareness Month, and the Trust was an official supporter of International Fraud Awareness Week in the same month. Fraud awareness work continues generally across the Trust and is also targeted at specific areas of heightened risk, with due consideration given to the potential for an increased risk of fraud as a result of cost-of-living pressures.

We have a well-publicised system in place for staff and patients to raise concerns if they identify or suspect fraud. They can do this via our LCFS, Director of Finance and Information, via the NHS fraud and corruption reporting line on 0800 028 40 60 or online at www.cfa.nhs.uk/reportfraud