Pharmaceutical fraud to be highlighted on Fraud Squad TV documentary after Counter Fraud Services investigation
Counter Fraud Services will be appearing on national television this week (Thursday 13th May at 11am) as part the BBC’s Fraud Squad documentary programme which follows investigators tracking down criminals who steal £1.25 billion every year from the NHS - from organised crime rings to NHS staff themselves.
The episode details the investigation against Michael Lloyd of Talbot Green Pharmacy and features NHS Counter Fraud Services Wales’ Counter Fraud Specialist Mark Weston.
We recently caught up with Mark who provides and insight into the investigation as well as the documentary itself.
Hello again Mark, thank you for talking to us ahead of your TV appearance on Fraud Squad.
What will we see you presenting?
This case relates to a pharmacist, Michael Lloyd of Talbot Green Pharmacy in Rhondda Cynon Taf. It is a family-run business with five pharmacies which he co-owned with his brothers. Lloyd was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, we recovered over £76,000 and more recently he was struck from the GPhC, the General Pharmaceutical Council.
What did he do wrong?
He was providing patients with tablets, but altered the prescription claim forms to claim for more expensive formulations, sometimes costing the NHS a hundred times more.
What impact does it have to tell these sort of stories on TV?
It is an opportunity to showcase the work that NHS Counter Fraud Services (Wales) do. The BBC has a large audience, the public seem interested in these type of cases and feedback after we broadcast is always very supportive. As well as acting to raise public awareness and drive reports to the fraud reporting line and to Local Counter Fraud Specialists (LCFS) at Health bodies in NHS Wales, it is an excellent deterrent to those tempted to commit fraud.
What was it about this case that made it a good one for television?
Firstly it illustrates a priority action area where fraud is believed to be under-reported. It is also another great example of three successful sanctions, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the triple tracking approach [prosecution, financial recovery and referral to the professional body].
Did you ever fear this one would get away?
It was quite clear early on with this case that the evidence was there and we just needed to corroborate it with the different layers of evidence from a number of sources. Easier said than done, of course.
Documentary filming takes up a lot of time and energy. Did it have any negative impact on your ‘day job’ work?
Yes, just this small feature probably took up about two days of my time in filming alone. I have also engaged with the production company on other issues and checking the first edits for accuracy.
Luckily I managed to convince the production team to remove a reference comparing me to Victor Meldrew, which is totally inaccurate! I don’t believe it!! My colleagues would have been going on about that for years to come.
What message is the public going to take away from watching this?
Hopefully, don’t commit fraud against the NHS, do report it, and support the work we do to protect public funds from greedy fraudsters. All allegations of fraud will be taken seriously and investigated.
What message is the pharmaceutical community going to take away?
There have not been many pharmacy fraud prosecutions in the UK in recent years, I know for a fact that this court case did make waves in the pharmacy community and will hopefully act as a good deterrent.
Is a joined up approach being taken to pharmaceutical fraud?
We are working closely with NWSSP and Audit Wales on this area at the moment, as it has been somewhat overlooked for a while. We continually work closely with NHSCFA and Local Counter Fraud Services (LCFS) in Health Boards and NHS Trusts Wales. I must also acknowledge the significant support and assistance we had on this particular case from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Boards Community Pharmacy Team and also The NHS CFA Forensic Computing Unit assisted greatly.
Is it your first time on the show?
It is, although I was on ‘Saints and Scroungers’ a few years ago – hopefully I was the saint and not the scrounger.
What sort of case did you present last time around?
It was a dental fraud by Dr Venter, based in Llandrindod Wells. It was a good example of where again we attained three successful sanctions: 18 months in prison, financial recoveries of £48,000 (plus £30k costs) and he was also struck off by the General Dental Council.
What does the programme show about the mind of a fraud investigator?
I hope it shows how we must always keep an open mind in every investigation, and always consider the most appropriate sanctions. It also shows we have to be very patient and methodical and apply our experience.
Do you see this TV work as part of your job or something separate?
It is something different to the day to day role and I don’t mind it once every few years. It is all part of our bigger role to create a deterrent though fraud awareness and this is always a great opportunity.
What support did you have from Graham Dainty as Head of NHS Counter Fraud Services (Wales), and the rest of the team?
Graham and the team are always very supportive. The rest of the team and my colleague Jenna in particular gave a huge input into this case. We are a very close team and always support each other in everything we do, so that helps when you stick your neck out to make a TV programme and you know that something might go wrong, but you are going to be backed up if it does. But no doubt, there will be a bit of teasing to follow once it finally gets on the telly.
Were there any standout moments when you were filming?
The anxious moments seem to involve cars. I used to lease my car through NHS Fleet Solutions so I checked very carefully that if the TV crew damaged the car, it was down to them to pay for it. You can see in the photo they stuck big suckers on my bonnet for the camera, it felt a bit like Top Gear. Saints and Scroungers was worse. The cameraman was sat in the passenger seat as I drove around, poking his camera inches from my face, asking questions while I was trying to concentrate on driving the car, coming up to a very busy roundabout, a nightmare.
So would you go through this experience again?
Once in a while is ok. That is me done after a couple of TV programmes - I think it is somebody else’s turn. But….I won’t say never again.
Thanks Mark, we all look forward to watching it.