Counter Fraud

Counter Fraud within the Trust

The Trust is committed to reducing fraud to an absolute minimum. In doing so the Trust works in partnership with ParkHill, a specialist NHS counter-fraud agency hosted by St Mary’s NHS Trust, as well as the national NHS wide Counter Fraud Services.

The key aims of the Trust's Counter Fraud Strategy are:

• The creation of an anti-fraud culture.

• Maximum deterrence of fraud.

• Successful prevention of fraud which cannot be deterred

• Prompt detection of fraud which cannot be prevented.

• Professional investigation of detected fraud.

• Effective sanctions, including appropriate legal action against people committing fraud.

• Effective methods for seeking recovery of money defrauded

To deliver these aims the Trust will:

• Investigate all suspected cases of fraud in a professional, effective and efficient manner.

• Integrate into systems, policies and procedures measures to prevent and detect fraud.

• Proactively review identified high risk areas.

• Work across the NHS to integrate an anti-fraud culture and maximise deterrence, detection, investigation, sanction and redress for all cases of fraud.

• Work with other organisations to identify those who commit fraud.

• Pursue and seek full redress from those who perpetrate fraud against the Trust.

• Learn the lessons from how the fraud was committed and act on them.

• Publicise action taken against fraud, including successful actions and prosecutions.

These Processes are delivered by the Trust's Local Counter-Fraud Specialists, accountable for delivery to the Trust's Director of Finance and the Trust Audit Committee.