DoH proposes new rules to help expose benefit fraud

The move, which will bring optometrists and dentists into line with pharmacists' duty, is further evidence of the Department of Health's drive to eradicate fraud and was announced last week by health minister Lord Hunt. After he addressed health representatives, advice booklets on how to counter fraud in the NHS were handed out, but there was no announcement on new domiciliary guidelines, as some expected, and there was concern over who had the ultimate responsibility. 'It's correct that we continue to have a duty of care to make reasonable enquiries to find whatever benefits people are on,' said David Derrington, Healthcall's professional services manager (optical) who was at the meeting. 'The new proposal is that we have to see something physical, but the main fear is if a patient is not on the benefits they say they're on, is the Government going to hold opticians responsible?' He also said that there was concern that if the patient could not produce evidence at point of issue, the professional might be accused of denying a service. The Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians' representative asked whether in this circumstance the patient should be refused treatment if documentation was not produced. Government officials indicated that it would be wrong to deny service under these circumstances. The professional bodies are to discuss these areas of concern with the DoH.