A hard hitting campaign to tackle fraud that costs the NHS £1.27bn a year is being supported by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW), from 17 November to 23 November, aims to raise fraud awareness across all sectors and celebrate counter fraud work.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be participating in the week, joining the NHS Counter Fraud Authority’s (NHSCFA) national campaign that will raise awareness of fraud, bribery and corruption committed against the NHS and wider health service.
The annual cost of fraud is equivalent to over 56,000 junior doctors or over 40,000 staff nurses. Fraud is committed by a wide range of people, from NHS staff and the general public, to suppliers.
Although fraud is committed by a small minority of people, it has a big impact on NHS resources and patient care. Raising awareness of its impact and the ways to mitigate the risk of fraud is essential in reducing fraud affecting the NHS.
The hospital will be publicising the campaign through its social media platforms and has created a survey for staff to gauge their level of awareness about fraud.
Andrew Whittaker, Counter Fraud Specialist for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “Fraud against the NHS is still something that we need to publicise both internally and externally as it affects all of us.
“Our IFAW campaign will shed light on the ways in which people commit fraud against the NHS, how we can all work together to mitigate the risks and the work we do to fight economic crime affecting the NHS.”
The NHSCFA’s campaign will help to communicate to staff their role in fighting fraud and the ways senior staff members can engage and support this by helping to spread awareness such as the different areas of fraud, what to look out for and how to report it.
It will highlight that NHS staff can report their concerns internally to their appointed Local Counter Fraud Specialists (LCFSs) and to communicate to the general public that they can report to the NHSCFA through their online report or the national fraud and corruption number (details below).
If you suspect that anyone is committing fraud or another economic crime against the NHS, tell NHSCFA about it – you can call our 24-hour, confidential reporting line 0800 028 40 60 or visit our website to report online: cfa.nhs.uk
To download the press release and photo, click here
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