This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Charter to fight NHS fraud
02/12/2004
A new Charter was launched today encouraging organisations across Scotland to work together to tackle fraud in the NHS.
The latest Annual Report from NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS) was also published, showing that more than £8 million has been saved to the NHS since the CFS was established in 2000.
Deputy Health Minister Rhona Brankin said:
"The money saved by the NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS) has gone into frontline patient care rather than the pockets of people who are defrauding the system.
"Many people think CFS is only a fraud investigation body, but this is just one important area of its work.
"Prevention and deterrence of fraud against the NHS are the main functions of CFS as it is far less costly to discourage people from fraud than to investigate it after it has taken place.
"I am delighted to sign this new Counter Fraud Charter and applaud the participation of the various representative bodies as it clearly demonstrates the depth of their commitment to tackling NHS fraud.
"Fraud against the NHS is not a victimless crime and I want there to be no place to hide for the perpetrators.
"The more money we can save from going in to the pockets of fraudsters, the more we will have to spend on legitimate care. This message cannot be repeated often enough."
NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS), formerly known as the Fraud Investigation Unit, was established on July 1, 2000.
It is part of NHS National Services Scotland and its remit is to prevent, detect and investigate fraud and other irregularities against the NHS in Scotland.
The Counter Fraud Charter is the first agreement between representative bodies of the health professions, the staff side and NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services.
The aim is to promote NHS counter fraud initiatives and encourage the development of an anti-fraud culture in which fraud against the NHS is viewed as unacceptable.
The Charter was signed by Deputy Health Minister Rhona Brankin and Head of CFS Neil Billing, as well as signatories from representative bodies including Ms Patricia Purton, Staff Side Secretary, the Scottish Partnership Forum, Dr Andrew Lamb, Director, British Dental Association Scotland, Mr Hal Rollinson, Chair, Optometry Scotland, Mr Frank Owens, Chair, Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council and Dr Peter Terry, Chair, Scottish Council of the British Medical Association.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed by the Deputy Minister, Neil Billing and Mr Steve Moody, Chair of the Health Insurers Counter Fraud Group.
This is the first collaborative agreement with the Health Insurers Fraud Group which is concerned with countering fraud in private healthcare.