News

A Cardiff-based optician who falsely claimed nearly £30,000 in payments from the NHS was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday.

Sheelagh Murray, who owns The Eyecentre with outlets at Ely and Llanrumney in Cardiff, pleaded guilty to 33 charges of false accounting, with 1,108 counts taken into consideration.

The court heard that Murray, 63, submitted numerous claims to Bro Taf Health Authority, which she knew to be false, between September 1998 and February 2002 for a range of optical services. These included claiming payment for spectacles when none had been provided, claiming for replacement spectacles when the original pair had only been repaired, claiming for two sets of glasses when only one had been provided, and claiming for tints on lenses that were not provided.

Bro Taf Health Authority grew suspicious at the nature of Murray's claims and referred the case to the NHS Counter Fraud Service, Wales.

Murray appeared in court in January 2007 and initially pleaded not guilty, but changed her plea to guilty during the hearing earlier this week.

Optician understands that separate civil proceedings have led to an agreement by Murray to pay the NHS £281,500.

Mark Weston for the NHS Counter Fraud Service, Wales told Optician: 'Murray tried to line her own pockets with public money. This behaviour will not be tolerated. The NHS Counter Fraud Service is committed to tackling fraud against the health service and prosecuting the dishonest minority of fraudsters. This sentence together with the substantial recoveries will also act as an effective deterrent against others who may be tempted to defraud the NHS.'

Providing exclusive eye care news, information and educational needs every week, including a FREE CET programme. Subscribe to Optician Print Edition.