NHS counter fraud investigation leads to five convictions in £300,000 case
An NHSCFA investigation has resulted in five convictions connected to a £300,000 NHS fraud case.
A former NHS credit controller has been convicted of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering following an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA). The individual admitted to fraud by abuse of position in September 2025 during a trial at Southwark Crown Court. The trial began on 1 September 2025 and lasted six weeks. proceedings. One defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering, and the jury found three further NHS employees guilty of the same offence. All five defendants had previously entered not guilty pleas at a hearing in November 2023 and have been Four others were convicted of money laundering offences during the same released on unconditional bail ahead of sentencing, which is due in January 2026.
The offences were uncovered by staff within the finance department of an NHS Foundation Trust, after irregularities were noticed in refund requests for funds held on behalf of patients and clients. Internal checks identified the involvement of a member of staff with authorised access to secure financial systems. Further investigation linked this individual to bank accounts receiving fraudulent payments. NHSCFA investigators used their powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to trace the movement of funds. The investigation established that fraudulent refund claims were submitted, and the proceeds were transferred to accounts connected to the other defendants. During a subsequent search, documentation relating to these refund transactions was recovered from the individual’s home address. The person declined to comment during interview.
The total identified fraud exceeded £218,000, with a further £84,000 in attempted claims prevented, taking the overall value of the fraud to more than £302,000. Financial analysis confirmed substantial sums were shared among the co-defendants, with many of the payments ultimately returned to the primary offender and some associates. The Head of Operations at the NHSCFA said the case demonstrated how this was a sophisticated internal fraud that abused access to confidential financial systems. They noted that the outcome reflected close collaboration with the trust’s finance team and the commitment to pursue and recover stolen NHS funds wherever the evidence may lead.
6 | SCRUTTON BLAND | COUNTER FRAUD
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