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Scottish optometrists, dentists and doctors who attempt to defraud the NHS are being warned that new measures are in place to detect illegal activity which is costing Scottish taxpayers £100m every year.

Launching a campaign to combat fraud by clinicians, suppliers, staff and contractors, Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon warned that 'fraud in the NHS will not be tolerated in any form' and she promised a range of measures to combat the fraudsters who cost the NHS an estimated 1 per cent of its total budget.

To help with detection the minister urged those who came across fraudulent activity to report the incident either via a free phone hotline (08000 151628) or via a website (www.cfsms.nhs.uk) anonymously.

'While only a minority of people defraud the NHS their actions cost the service dear. Whether committed by staff, patient, clinicians, contractors, NHS fraud takes money away from where it is needed most,' Sturgeon said.

The NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS), which detects and investigates potential cases, highlighted the types of fraud likely to be committed by optical practitioners. These included claims for domiciliary visits which were not taken, putting in a request for payment for two pairs of glasses when only one was supplied to the patient, claiming for full replacements when only repairs were carried out and claiming for additional items such as tints, prisms or small frame supplements when they were not necessary or not provided.

According to the CFS data, the most common type of crime committed by patients was claiming to be exempt from NHS charges to obtain optical vouchers.

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