Former NHS doctor sentenced for £268k NHS fraud
A former NHS resident doctor has received a three‑year prison sentence after admitting to defrauding the NHS of more than £268,000, following an investigation carried out by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA).
T he individual, aged 61 and from Orpington in Kent, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in November 2025. They had previously entered guilty pleas in September 2025 at the same court to four charges of Fraud by False Representation. They had been working as a trust grade specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at a hospital in London. This role is a type of resident doctor, formerly referred to as a junior doctor. From October 2018 to December 2021, they undertook on‑call and night duties at three other NHS trusts, despite having told their employer that they were unable to perform such work. These shifts were carried out while they were either on sick leave or on reduced duties from their main employer.
In June 2022, the local counter fraud team interviewed the individual under caution, during which they declined to answer questions. After further investigation by the NHSCFA, they were charged with four counts of Fraud by False Representation. During sentencing, the judge stated that the individual had lied to occupational health, colleagues, and their employer, and emphasised that the public does not expect medical professionals to act dishonestly for personal benefit. A representative from the NHSCFA stated that the case showed a deliberate breach of trust by someone who knowingly ignored the conditions of their employment for personal gain. They added that the individual’s actions diverted significant NHS funds that should have supported patient care, and that the authority remains committed to identifying and taking action against those who exploit NHS resources.
As well as paying the individual their full salary, the trust was required to hire locum staff to cover the work they claimed they were unable to complete. In November 2021, the trust received information indicating that the individual had been working night shifts at a different hospital. Checks by the local counter fraud team confirmed that they had completed several on‑call shifts there. Further enquiries by the trust and NHSCFA gathered witness evidence showing that the individual had also worked for three other trusts while they were supposed to be operating under reduced duties for their main employer. The trust provided records confirming that the individual had not sought, nor been granted, approval for any secondary employment. Timesheets and payroll information from the other three trusts demonstrated that most of their additional work involved night and on‑call duties, despite their claims that they were not fit to undertake such tasks.
COUNTER FRAUD | SCRUTTON BLAND | 5
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