Dentists jailed for scamming NHS patients
Two dentists from the West Midlands have been jailed after they were found guilty of scamming NHS patients.
Ikhlaq Hussain, 38 and Jaspal Bachada, 37 were charged with fraud after it was revealed they were charging NHS patients private rates; the dentists advertised for NHS patients but charged patients much higher rates over a four year period at their practice in Blackfriars Avenue, Droitwich. Hussain was jailed for two and a half years and Bachada was jailed for twenty months; both dentists were found guilty of fraud amounting to £90,000 at Birmingham Crown Court.
An investigation was launched by the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service; investigators examined more than 2,500 files over a seven year period and found the dentists had been conspiring to defraud patients and were destroying records and hiding dental records in a garden shed. According to investigators, some records were missing, meaning it was impossible to determine just how much the dentists have made from the scam.
The dentists also have other dental practices across the West Midlands.
The case was referred to the General Dental Council and both dentists have now been suspended until further notice.
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