#334 Reducing Fraud in the NHS with Alex Rothwell

Alex Rothwell, Chief Executive of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, discusses the issue of fraud in the NHS in England. Alex highlights the importance of addressing fraud in the NHS, as any money lost to fraud could have been spent on healthcare outcomes.   The conversation explores the importance of fraud prevention and control measures in the healthcare sector, and emphasises the need for a cultural change that prioritises reducing loss to budgets and managing risk. The conversation concludes by discussing the motivations behind fraud and the role of good governance in preventing it.   Takeaways

• The NHS Counter Fraud Authority is responsible for tackling fraud, bribery, and corruption in the NHS in England.
• Fraud in the NHS is a significant issue, with an estimated £1.2 billion lost to fraud each year.
• There are different types of fraud in the NHS, including internal staff fraud, corruption, and fraud committed by external individuals or organisations.
• Preventing fraud is a priority, and organisations should have control measures in place to mitigate risk.
• Proactive measures, such as checking declarations of interest and identifying red flags, are essential in preventing fraud.
• Good governance plays a vital role in preventing fraud and creating a culture of transparency and accountability.

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I’m Tara Humphrey and I’m the founder of THC Primary Care, a leading healthcare consultancy. I provide project and network management to Primary Care Networks and consulting support to clinical leads. To date, I’ve worked with 11 Training Hubs and supported over 200 Primary Care Networks and 6 GP Federations.  

I understand and appreciate the complexity of healthcare and what it takes to deliver projects across multiple practices.   

I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sector and have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare. I’m also published in the London Journal of Primary Care and the author of over 250 blogs.   

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