Anger over £200 million NHS fraud scandal

Fraudster are plundering the NHS to the tune of more than £200m, it has been revealed.

A Sunday Post investigation has uncovered a web of intricate fraud which is draining the health service of scarce resources.

While more than half of the Fury olosses have been racked up by patients illegally claiming free services, tens of millions of pounds have been defrauded by firms which work for the NHS.

Among them is £73m illegally claimed by dentists for doing NHS work and a massive £11.4m in false invoices from agencies which provide medical locums.

Last night campaigners reacted with fury at the “deeply worrying” levels of fraud by firms which are meant to support the NHS.

Jonathan Isaby, political director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “People will be aghast at how much of their money has been wasted as a result of NHS fraud.

“It’s deeply worrying that over the years a number of firms which are supposed to be working with the NHS appear to have been fleecing taxpayers and that the amount stolen is not fully known.

“Especially at a time when budgets are so tight, it’s essential NHS bosses crack down on fraud.

“Every pound lost is a pound that could have been spent on frontline patient care or left in taxpayers’ pockets all along.”

The shocking statistics were uncovered through a response to a parliamentary question.

It also revealed patients had falsely claimed free dental treatment to the tune of £36.3m, free optical services, such as eye tests costing £18.29m and free prescriptions for £100m.

Trevor Johnston, Unison’s head of health for the north of England, said: “It shows what a fallacy it is that privatisation and putting companies into the NHS will save money.

“These companies are there for one thing, to make profits, not for the good of the British people.”

A spokesman for NHS Protect which works to tackle crime in the health service, said: “NHS Protect carries out loss measurement exercises. Where appropriate, the findings can be used to help inform measures to reduce fraud within the health service.”