§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the nurse grade structure is of nurses that offer medical advice on NHS Direct. [59575]
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1 1998–1999 1999–2000 22000–2001 2001–2002 NHS staff and contractors Prosecutions4 1 18 45 42 Civil redress and disciplinary 4 37 74 44 The public — — — — Penalty charge notices issued n/a n/a n/a 1 34,249 Prosecutions4 2 3 1 3 1 The director of the NHS CFS was appointed in September 1998 to establish the new organisation, and the strategy document "Countering Fraud in the NHS" was published in December 1998. 2 The NHS CFS Operational Service was established and became fully operational in January 2000. 3 Because of the low value of most NHS patient fraud (the current prescription charge is £6.20) it is not appropriate or cost effective to routinely prosecute those who perpetrate it. A process to recover the value of the charges evaded has been in place since the NHS CFS was established. In addition. Penalty Charges are applied. These are for a sum which is five times the charge which should have been paid plus the original charge up to a maximum of £100. 4Only one prosecution (out of 115) has been unsuccessful in the last three years, however, the NHS CFS do not merely seek to apply criminal sanctions. Rather it seeks to combine criminal, civil and disciplinary sanctions to best effect.
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 24 May 2002]: The nurse grade structure for NHS Direct consists of F and G grade nurses offering medical advice.
NHS Direct defines what it requires of its nurses through a set of competency statements. Nurses can be recruited from any speciality provided they meet these competencies, although they must have between three and five year's post-qualification experience.