§ Angela WatkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been convicted for fraudulent claims for free prescriptions since the Counter Fraud Service was introduced 18 months ago. [34616]
§ Ms BlearsFollowing the creation of the national health service Counter Fraud Service, the value of fraudulent patient evasion of NHS prescription charges has been reduced from 1998 levels by 41 per cent., equivalent to £48 million.
Following the implementation of the penalty charges regime in August 2001, over 23,000 charge notices have been issued to patients in respect of non-payment of prescription charges and as a result £236,000 has been returned to NHS funds. The use of penalty charges is a proportionate response in the majority of these cases.
Criminal sanctions are considered where offences are of a serious or repetitive nature and one patient has been prosecuted.