International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 15th to 20th November
Take part and be a fighter!
It has been a momentous year for the NHS and health sector since International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2019 and the anti-fraud week is more important than ever in 2020. Last year, over 110 NHS organisations publicly supported IFAW, many of them using the campaign resources developed by NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA).
NHS Fraud in Wales
The NHS Counter Fraud Service Wales (NHS CFS Wales) has a remit to identify and tackle economic crime including fraud, bribery and corruption in NHS Wales. NHS CFS Wales is part of NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP).
For further information on the work of NHS CFS Wales please visit the NWSSP website and click on the Counter Fraud Service tab. If you would like to find out more about the fraud cases in NHS Wales then select Types of Fraud in Wales and/or Convictions in NHS Wales.
Local Counter Fraud Specialist
Every Health Body in NHS Wales has a nominated Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) who are responsible for delivering a proactive Counter Fraud Work Plan to minimise the risks of fraud in NHS Wales. To find out more about your LCFS, please visit the LCFS Webpage on the NWSSP website.
What can you do to help?
While the clear focus of this campaign is the protection of NHS resources from fraud and related economic crimes, IFAW is also the opportunity to spread the word about how individuals can protect themselves from fraud too.
Whatever your role is within the NHS, please join in the fight against fraud by spreading the word. Anyone with a genuine interest in countering fraud can join in the campaign. You might be an NHS employee, contractor, agency staff or volunteer in any NHS or related organisation.
The NHSCFA is a special health authority tasked to lead the fight against fraud, bribery and corruption in the NHS. To help with the fight against fraud, NHSCFA has produced a range of NHS branded short banners and posters to spread the word, with easily understood key messages such as “STOP fraud”.
The publicity materials that are available on the NHSCFA website highlight the fact that during unexpected events like the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHS can become more vulnerable to fraud, and continued vigilance is essential. They are available in both English and Welsh from your LCFS. Please let your LCFS know if you have circulated or displayed the publicity materials within your department/organisation.
What has it got to do with you?
Fraud is the crime you are most likely to experience during your lifetime, yet there is a good chance you will never actually see a fraud happening. Fraud is a hidden crime, as fraudsters use deception and target weaknesses in people and systems to make financial gain.
Fraudsters are also increasingly sophisticated in their use of technology, as you may have noticed if you ever received a very ‘convincing’ email or letter asking you to send money or provide your financial details.
No individual or organisation is immune from the threat of fraud, and the NHS is no exception. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) estimates that the NHS is vulnerable to over £1.2 billion of fraud each year – that is equivalent to the cost of 40,000 nurses.
How to report suspicions of fraud against NHS Wales
You can also help by reporting and suspicions or concerns about fraud against the NHS. It is easy and simple to report fraud using one of the following options:
Contact your Local Counter Fraud Specialist on 02921 836265 or send an email to Craig.Greenstock@wales.nhs.uk
Contact NHS CFS Wales on 01495 334100 or send an email to Enquiries@nhscfswales.gov.uk
Click on the link to the NHS Fraud online reporting tool
Call the NHSCFA free phone line on 0800 028 40 60 (available 24 hours). All reports are treated in strict confidence, and you have the option to report your concerns anonymously.