Cut in prescription fraud saves taxpayer £70m

Prescription fraud has been slashed by 60% over the past six years - saving the taxpayer around £70 million – the government has said today.

Figures collected by the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) have revealed that losses have fallen from £117 million a year in 1998/99 to just £47 million a year in 2002/03.

Health Minister Melanie Johnson welcomed the figures saying that the reduction in fraudulent behaviour meant "more money for patient care".

Ms Johnson said: "Every single penny of the money we are investing in the NHS must be spent on delivering the best possible care for patients. It is unacceptable for resources to be diverted away from patients and staff, and we must do whatever we can to root out fraud.

"These figures show that we are already making excellent progress. Reducing fraud in any organisation is a considerable achievement, but to reduce losses by so much in such a short space of time is a significant accomplishment and one that the NHS can be pleased with."

An act of prescription fraud is committed when patients falsely claim free prescriptions. In total, patient fraud, including dental and optical patient fraud has been reduced by 49% from £170 million a year to £87 million a year over the last five years, the department said.

Over the last five years the NHS CFSMS has worked with pharmacists to check for proof of entitlement to exemptions before dispensing medicines.

Pharmacists can also claim a £70 reward for identifying fraudulent prescriptions, which provides an incentive for pharmacists to be vigilant.

Jim Gee, Chief Executive of the NHS CFSMS, said: "We aim to protect the NHS so that it can properly protect the public's health. We know that each pound lost to fraud diminishes the quality of NHS healthcare that can be available. This is a significant reduction in levels of fraud in the NHS and good news for the NHS and the patients who rely on it.

"In particular I would like to thank the NHS professionals who have worked with the CFSMS to ensure proper checks take place to prevent fraud. We are not complacent and will now redouble our efforts to further reduce these losses."

Up to the end of 2002/03 the NHS CFSMS had produced a financial benefit to the NHS of almost £320 million, a 16:1 return on its total budget of £20 million, since 1999, the department said.

(gmcg)