Practitioners targeted in crackdown on fraud

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.