§ Mr. Nicholas BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to eliminate the fraudulent obtaining of the free provision of dental services, optical treatment and prescription. [20359]
§ Mr. MaloneThe Government are determined to eliminate fraud in the national health service wherever it occurs.
From April 1995, amended prescription forms have asked patients to sign a declaration indicating the charge paid or the reason for exemption.
The Department of Health has set up a prescription fraud unit at the Prescription Pricing Authority which will operate from 1 April 1996. The unit will provide an expert service for health authorities in the prevention, detection and prosecution of prescription-related fraud.
Declarations by patients have been changed to clarify the basis of exemption or remission from dental charges from 1 April 1996 and will be used for post-payment checks on claims for remission of charges during 1996–97.
Health authorities are asked to undertake post-payment checks on patient eligibility for NHS sight tests and spectacle vouchers.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of fraud took place in(a) his Department and (b) the NHS in each of the last five years; and what sums of money were involved. [21540]
§ Mr. HoramI refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 26 October 1995 at column784, for the available information relating to the Department of Health.
National health service losses from fraud are not separately identified from other losses recorded in returns 78W to the Department. The Audit Commission has identified cases of detected fraud in the NHS as follows:
Year Number of cases Sums involved (£ million) 1991–92 300 4.5 1992–93 332 0.4 1993–94 328 1.0 1994–95 350 0.75 These figures represent on average slightly less than 1p for every £100 spent in the NHS.