It is well known that NHS has been deliberately unfunded by the government to enable it to privatise it through the back door. This ploy is not working as the public is well aware of these machinations by the government. On the other hand because of austerity fraud has increased exponentially in NHS.
It is costing the NHS 1.29 billion a year. This could pay for 40,000 nurses or 5,000 new ambulances.
According to Associated Newspapers Limited NHS staff are defrauding their employer out of around £94 million a year, but patients are thought to be conning the health service out of a huge £341.7m, a report has revealed Fraud is costing the NHS nearly £1.3 billion each year, an official report has revealed. Patients are conning the health service out of around £341.7 million, while its own staff are cheating it of £94.2 million. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority, set up in November last year, announced the damning numbers in its first annual report. Money is being lost across the health service, the body said: dentists are defrauding around £126.1 million, opticians £79 million and GP surgeries £88 million. Around £111 million is being lost to local pharmacies, and £35 million to people claiming healthcare in England which they're not entitled to, The Times reported.
There were 45 criminal investigations being carried out at the end of March to try and prosecute fraudsters. It is time now for the authorities to take firm action to stop people stealing from the NHS. On one side we are complaining about underfunding and falling standards in the NHS but on the other hand such a huge fraud is taking place. Ultimately the patients will be losers, especially the aging population whose needs are the greatest. Sue Frith, the interim chief executive of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, said: 'Fraud always undermines the NHS, with every penny lost to fraud impacting on the delivery of vital patient services.
Baldev Sharma
Rayners Lane, Harrow
