Call for more cash to fight fraud

The findings in the Commission's report, Protecting the Public Purse, have led the NHS Confederation to call for more government money to establish anti-fraud systems. The report has coincided with an announcement that five professional bodies, including the Association of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, have signed a 'Counter Fraud Charter' (see page 6). The Audit Commission found that a third of health authorities and almost half of NHS trusts did not have designated police contact. Almost four out of 10 health bodies had no 'whistle-blowing' policy in place and over two-thirds of health authorities and three-quarters of trusts reported no fraud at all. The Commission has made a series of recommendations including tightening anti-fraud strategies. Fraud among optical practitioners in particular has risen, with the detected level of illegal claims rising from &\#163;714,000 in 1997-98 to &\#163;1.3m in 1998-99. The Commission recommends a central patient history record should be established. Andrew Foster, controller of the Audit Commission, said: 'In local government, councils have responded positively by detecting more fraud than ever before. NHS trusts and health authorities should learn from the good practice of councils.' NHS Conferation chief executive Stephen Thornton said: 'If health authorities and trusts are to devote more staff time to combating fraud, there will need to be a well-resourced, professional approach supported by investment in technology.' He also said that primary care trusts would have to contend with combating fraud.