NHS Loses More Than £3 Million in Dental Fraud in Scotland
The NHS lost more than £3 million in Scotland in 2014 due to dental fraud and mistakes, figures have confirmed.
A report compiled by NHS Counter Fraud Services (CFS) revealed that a sum of £3.25 million was lost in Scotland in 2014 as a result of fraudulent and mistaken claims for NHS dental care. The claims relate to erroneous and fraudulent patients claims for free dental care. Currently, dental fees are chargeable to patients using dental services, with the exception of those in receipt of certain benefits and children aged under 18 years old.
In response to the findings, the CFS is launching a new initiative, which will begin in the Forth Valley area. The aim is to educate members of staff to help them identify warning signs of fraudulent activity and mistakes made by patients claiming free dental treatment.
The CFS works with other agencies and government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions HM Revenue and Customs, to check out claims and identify irregularities and fraudulent activity. In the event that there is a suspicion that a patient has wrongly claimed free treatment, the patient is contacted by representatives of the CFS and may be liable to pay additional treatment fees.
National counter fraud prevention manager Fraser Paterson said that it is incredibly important that fraud is dealt with to ensure that NHS resources are available to spend on medical and dental care. He quoted Benjamin Franklin, saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and said that this message is particularly pertinent given the financial pressure the NHS is facing. He added that he welcomed the new government-run initiative, describing it as a “well-supported, planned and coordinated venture.”
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