Anti-Fraud, Corruption and Bribery
NHS St Helens CCG Anti-Fraud Services
Please read the CCG’s Clinical Accountable Officer, and Chief Finance Officer Statement in relation to Bribery by clicking here.
What is fraud, bribery and corruption?
Fraud, bribery and corruption against the NHS are not victimless crimes – such activity diverts much-needed public funds into criminals pockets and needs to be stamped out. Some people are not aware that this is a problem for the NHS, or even know what it is or how it is committed.
Some examples of NHS fraud, bribery and corruption are as follows:
- NHS staff dishonestly working in another job when they are off sick
- NHS staff making false and inflated expenses, mileage, and timesheet claims
- NHS staff procuring goods and services for personal gain; such as ordering IT equipment or printer cartridges, then keeping for their own use or selling them on
- An economic or personal conflict of interest which affects an NHS business transaction
- Job applicants failing to disclose criminal convictions or existing medical conditions; or providing false documentation such as qualifications, passports, and Home Office documents, in order to gain NHS employment
- Patients claiming free treatment and services when not entitled, such as prescriptions/ glasses/ dental treatment; or ‘Health Tourists’ providing false personal details in order to gain hospital treatment
- Contractors and suppliers to the NHS submitting false invoices for work they have not done, or submitting duplicate invoices for payment for work they have done
- Businesses/ individuals offering extravagant gifts and hospitality to ‘decision-makers’ with the intention of influencing them to purchase their particular brand of goods/ services/ pharmaceuticals etc
- Trustees of direct payment budgets diverting monies for their own benefit, money which should be used to fund care for a service user
How can I help to fight fraud, bribery and corruption against the NHS?
You can help to reduce NHS fraud, bribery and corruption by reporting any suspicions against the CCG or in the wider NHS, via any of the reporting channels below. Referrals will be assessed and appropriately dealt with by professionals, and you can provide information in confidence, or remain anonymous.
The CCGs Anti-Fraud Bribery and Corruption Policy can be found here.
Report your concerns to:
The CCG’s Anti Fraud Specialist (AFS): Karen McArdle, 0151 285 4500
The CCG’s Chief Finance Officer: Iain Stoddart, 01744 624268
NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line: 0800 020 40 60
Online: https://cfa.nhs.uk/reportfraud
For more information please visit the NHS Counter Fraud Authority website: https://cfa.nhs.uk/
National Online Fraud Reporting Tool
Good intelligence on local or national fraud threats enables more efficient and effective action. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) supports the provision of better intelligence on fraud risks facing the NHS by providing a secure national fraud reporting service both online and via the telephone.
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority provides an online reporting tool to continue to enable NHS employees, patients and third parties to report allegations of fraud and corruption directly to the NHS CFA:
All information you provide will be treated in complete confidence.
There are two ways of reporting that determine how your personal details are handled.
Linked – If you have no concerns about your personal details being linked to the information you are providing (or if you are reporting something in an official capacity as part of your job). This means that your details will be held with the information and made available to the investigating officer. This will allow us to contact you easily if anything needs to be clarified.
Separated – If you are happy to provide your personal details to NHS Counter Fraud Authority but would like your personal details separated from the information you are providing. Measures will be taken on receipt to ensure that the information that you have provided does not reveal your identity. Your personal details will not be disclosed to anyone including the investigating officer without your permission unless we are obliged by law, or it is in the wider public interest.
24 Hour Fraud Reporting Hotline
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority has also partnered with Crimestoppers to provide a 24 fraud reporting hotline. If you prefer you can speak to an experienced call handler, in confidence, by dialing 0800 028 4060.
The tool is a national service which is independent of the rest of the NHS and offers a simple and intuitive way to report NHS fraud matters, at the same time enabling us to form the best possible understanding of reported concerns.
It provides enhanced protection of users’ rights by giving them a choice of reporting options. All information is treated confidentially but additionally a user can now choose a ‘reporting status’ that further defines exactly how NHSCFA will process their information.
The tool enables users to update reports they have made by providing new information. It is seamlessly integrated with NHSCFA secure intelligence database, enabling us to form a national intelligence picture.
Other NHS St Helens CCG related policies:
A copy of the NHS St Helens CCG's Freedom to Speak Up (Raising Concerns) Policy can be viewed here.
A copy of the NHS St Helens CCG's Conflicts of Interest Policy can be viewed via this link: Conflicts of Interest and Gifts/Hospitality Policy