NHS deception costs optom over £150,000

John Walsby-Tickle, who is registered in Caldy, Wirral, admitted to fraudulently claiming £600 from Liverpool Health Authority (LHA) during 1996 and 1997, and appeared before the court in October. At that time optician reported that the local PCT would 'relentlessly' pursue health professionals who defrauded the NHS (News, October 24).
This week he made another court appearance, was ordered to hand over £30,000 for stealing from the NHS and in addition the judge ordered him to pay court costs of £123,500.
The Liverpool Daily Post (December 2) reported that the court heard that Walsby-Tickle had assets of £2m, and that although the optometrist had been 'spared a jail sentence', it stated he faced a 'huge legal bill' for the costs of civil action.
Stuart Denney, defending, said Walsby-Tickle had dishonestly obtained the £600 sum from the HA in an effort to save the business his grandfather had established, A E Walsby, after it faced strong local competition. His client was 'utterly devastated' by the criminal proceedings, Denney said, as well as the civil court case which is ongoing, and now suffers depression.
The court heard how the optometrist recorded that patients had received two pairs of spectacles instead of one, falsified claims that tints had been added and lied regarding the number of repairs and replacements needed.
Handing down the fine, Judge John Phipps said: '£600 was not a large amount of money. It was modest, but it involved a fairly lengthy period of dishonesty.
'It is a fraud on taxpayers and the public are entitled to expect absolute propriety from those responsible for claiming public funds.'
Phil Wadeson, director of finance at Central Liverpool PCT, told optician: 'I cannot disguise my disappointment at the sentence handed down Ð the fine of £30,000 and costs. It doesn't seem much of a deterrent to other potential fraudsters.
'The £600 referred to in the article related to specimen charges, but I can say that we are continuing to pursue Walsby-Tickle for 'several hundred thousand pounds' through our civil action for the recovery of monies obtained fraudulently. That case may take some time to come to court.'
Jim Gee, chief executive of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service, said: 'Fraud is not a victimless crime; it deprives the NHS of the resources it needs for the delivery of patient care. Since 1999, when the NHS Counter Fraud Service was created, specialist counter fraud work has made a financial benefit to the NHS of nearly £300m. This money is now being spent on the continued improvements to NHS services.
'We hope that this case will act as a deterrent to any potential fraudster working in or using the NHS; your actions will not be tolerated and you will be punished appropriately.'A Crown Court judge has ordered a fraudulent optometrist to pay over £150,000 after he pleaded guilty to six charges of obtaining cash by deception from Liverpool Health Authority.
John Walsby-Tickle, who is registered in Caldy, Wirral, admitted to fraudulently claiming £600 from Liverpool Health Authority (LHA) during 1996 and 1997, and appeared before the court in October. At that time optician reported that the local PCT would 'relentlessly' pursue health professionals who defrauded the NHS (News, October 24).
This week he made another court appearance, was ordered to hand over £30,000 for stealing from the NHS and in addition the judge ordered him to pay court costs of £123,500.
The Liverpool Daily Post (December 2) reported that the court heard that Walsby-Tickle had assets of £2m, and that although the optometrist had been 'spared a jail sentence', it stated he faced a 'huge legal bill' for the costs of civil action.
Stuart Denney, defending, said Walsby-Tickle had dishonestly obtained the £600 sum from the HA in an effort to save the business his grandfather had established, A E Walsby, after it faced strong local competition. His client was 'utterly devastated' by the criminal proceedings, Denney said, as well as the civil court case which is ongoing, and now suffers depression.
The court heard how the optometrist recorded that patients had received two pairs of spectacles instead of one, falsified claims that tints had been added and lied regarding the number of repairs and replacements needed.
Handing down the fine, Judge John Phipps said: '£600 was not a large amount of money. It was modest, but it involved a fairly lengthy period of dishonesty.
'It is a fraud on taxpayers and the public are entitled to expect absolute propriety from those responsible for claiming public funds.'
Phil Wadeson, director of finance at Central Liverpool PCT, told optician: 'I cannot disguise my disappointment at the sentence handed down Ð the fine of £30,000 and costs. It doesn't seem much of a deterrent to other potential fraudsters.
'The £600 referred to in the article related to specimen charges, but I can say that we are continuing to pursue Walsby-Tickle for 'several hundred thousand pounds' through our civil action for the recovery of monies obtained fraudulently. That case may take some time to come to court.'
Jim Gee, chief executive of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service, said: 'Fraud is not a victimless crime; it deprives the NHS of the resources it needs for the delivery of patient care. Since 1999, when the NHS Counter Fraud Service was created, specialist counter fraud work has made a financial benefit to the NHS of nearly £300m. This money is now being spent on the continued improvements to NHS services.
'We hope that this case will act as a deterrent to any potential fraudster working in or using the NHS; your actions will not be tolerated and you will be punished appropriately.'