Hospital workers get anti-fraud treatment

NHS workers risk their careers for a few pennies an hour by fiddling overtime hours.

That’s the view of hospital counterfraud expert Sue Smith, who was due to host a fraud awareness roadshow to the Royal Oldham Hospital today.

Sue, the local counterfraud specialist for Pennine Acute NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “Fraud drains much-needed funds from the NHS. We take it very seriously.

A typical fraud involves around £5,000 —around 69p an hour extra for someone who has worked for the NHS for four years.

“What surprises me most is how some staff can risk their careers for a sum which equates to less than a pound for each hour they have worked for the NHS. Yet that can mean a criminal record and cost that individual their career,” said Sue.

The roadshow follows a case involving a former Royal Oldham Hospital theatre secretary, Leanne Forbes, who made false claims on timesheets.

The 29-year-old Chadderton woman was sentenced to 120 hours’ community service after admitting falsely claiming £1,084 in overtime.

“It’s not just about the conviction, the fine, the potential civil action and the disciplinary action. People lose friendships they have had for years because their colleagues feel so betrayed. Quite simply, it’s not worth it,” added Sue.