Practice owner jailed for £23k NHS fraud

The owner of two optical practices was sentenced to 27 months in prison for defrauding the NHS of over £23,000 for services which were not provided.

Robert Clowes of Kingsway, Crewe submitted false claims for payment totalling £23,072.67 to Shropshire County Primary Care Trust relating to hundreds of customers at his practice, Drayton Eye Centre in Market Drayton. His other business, Welshpool Eye Centre, was based in Welshpool, Powys.

Between 2007 and 2009 Clowes submitted fraudulent GOS forms in order to be paid more by the NHS. Clowes also failed to declare a criminal conviction when he successfully applied for his businesses to go on the Shropshire County PCT and Powys Local Health board ophthalmic lists. He was previously convicted in December 1999 on 10 charges of theft and false accounting relating to his past employer Stafford Specsavers and sentenced to eight months imprisonment.