By Pamela McGowan

Last updated 11:49, Tuesday, 07 October 2008

HOSPITALS in north Cumbria are showing how serious they are about combating fraud by educating staff and patients about its effects and how to help stop it.

To coincide with Fraud Awareness Month, which takes place throughout October, health trusts across the country are launching local events and initiatives.

The North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, NHS Cumbria and Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust have teamed up to reinforce their message.

Every health body in England and Wales now has an accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS), who is responsible for overseeing fraud-proofing measures.

They also study the financial comings and goings of the trust to look for anything suspicious, raise awareness of the issues locally and investigate allegations of fraud.

They are supported regionally and nationally by the NHS Counter Fraud Service, which deals with high-value or complex frauds.

Fraud Awareness Month was launched in 2003. This year all the trusts in Cumbria will be holding events, while public displays will be set up at some local hospital sites.

Jonathan Wood, director of finance for the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital, said: “Fraud against the NHS is not a victimless crime because these valuable funds are meant for patient care.

“We want to send a clear message that fraud will not be tolerated in our trust and we will support the prosecution of offenders.”

Local Fraud Counter Specialists Justin Williams and Cheryl McAdams, said: “The work of LCFSs and the NHS Counter Fraud Service has already recovered tens of millions of pounds of NHS money and led to many fraudsters being prosecuted. However, we also need every honest person who works in and uses the NHS to help by recognising and reporting any fraud that does occur so we can ensure that the public funds of the NHS are spent on patient care.”

Types of NHS fraud can vary, ranging from patients who avoid paying for prescriptions by claiming false exemptions, staff using false documents to get work or claiming pay for shifts they did not work and even contractors who falsify records of NHS work.

To report any incident of suspected fraud in the NHS contact your local trust’s LCFS or call the NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60.