Radiographer admits fraud over sick pay

A RADIOGRAPHER has been cautioned by his professional body following his admission that he made fraudulent sick-pay claims, failed to tell his NHS bosses he was unfit for work and was dishonest.

But Andrew Campbell — who works for the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Oldham Hospital — was cleared of allegations casting doubt on his professional competency.

He was also accused of producing sub-standard images but a Health Professions Council (HPC) disciplinary committee found that that allegation had not been proved.

But in imposing a caution which will remain on Mr Campbell’s record for a year for the other matters, the HPC said: “Mr Campbell’s false sick-pay claims and subsequent denials were dishonest by an objective analysis against the ordinary standards of reasonable and honest people and he must have been aware that, by those standards, he was acting dishonestly.

“The allegation of misconduct is well-founded because there was a prolonged period of dishonesty on the part of Mr Campbell to cover up his fraudulent conduct until he was presented with irrefutable evidence.

“He lied during the trust investigatory interviews on September 17 and October 21, 2009. The allegation of misconduct is well founded.”

In imposing a caution on him, the disciplinary committee said it had taken into account his previous good character and references supplied on his behalf.

“The panel finds that a caution for one year would have a suitable deterrent effect to mark the serious nature of the misconduct, including the proved dishonesty during the Trust investigation and partial lack of insight demonstrated by Mr Campbell when giving evidence to the panel.”