HC Deb 20 May 2002 vol 386 cc138-40W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in(a) his Department's vote 1 budget and (b) his Department's vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [54721]

Ms Blears

A number of risk measurement exercises have been carried out since the inception of the national health service counter fraud service in 1998. The purpose of these exercises is to show the actual figures for losses to fraud and corruption, and figures for the sums at risk in each area of the NHS (the vote 1 budget). The status and results of these exercises are set out in the table.

Area of measurement Current status Fraud measured Completion date
Dental patient fraud Two full measurement exercises completed 1999–2000: £40.3 million 2000–01: £30 million A reduction of 25 per cent. January 2002
Dental contractor fraud First baseline measurement exercise completed Sums found to be 'at risk' 1999–2000: £59.7 million January 2002
Optical patient fraud First full measurement exercise completed 1999–2000: £13.25 million January 2002
Optical contractor fraud Baseline measurement exercise completed Sums found to be 'at risk' 1999–2000: £20.9 million February 2002
GMS fraud Baseline measurement exercise nearing completion Data currently with statisticians for analysis
Health authorities and NHS trusts Initial work commenced

The estimated levels of losses to fraud and corruption in the Departments vote 2 budget are as follows:

£
1999–2000 48,148.81
2000–01 56,831.99

Department of Health: Information collections on gender, race, disability or age since August 19971
Title Information collected2 Collection period
Population surveys3
ONS omnibus survey (Sun exposure 1997, ultraviolet monitor 1999, physical punishment of Children 1998) Age, gender, ethnicity Survey is annual, but elements vary—these items may not be included every year
National survey of patient experience Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information) Annual
Mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain 1999 Age, gender, ethnicity, special learning difficulties Every five years
Adult psychiatric morbidity among adults 16–74 in Great Britain 2000 Age, gender, ethnicity Period varies, but every few years
Ethnic minority psychiatric illness rates in the community Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information) Every 5 years
Mental health of carers Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information) Period varies, but every few years
Mental health of children looked after in Great Britain Age, gender, ethnicity, disability New survey—likely to be every 5 years
Learning difficulties survey 2003 Age, gender, ethnicity, disability Feasibility commissioned
Health survey for England—ethnic minority Groups 1999 Age, gender, ethnicity Annual, but elements vary
Health survey for England—health of older people 2000 Age, gender, ethnicity, disability Annual, but elements vary
Health care
Smoking cessation services return Age, gender, ethnicity Annual
NHS written complaints Ethnicity Annual
NHS performance indicators Age, gender Annual
Mixed sex hospital accommodation Gender Annual
Social care
Children looked after by local authorities Age, gender, ethnicity Annual
Children in need census Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information) Biannual
Children on child protection registers Age, gender, ethnicity Annual
Referrals, assessments and packages of care Age (limited), ethnicity Annual
Social services staffing return Gender, ethnicity Annual
1 Includes only those collections which started after August 1997, or those previously existing collections that changed after August 1997 to include gender, race, disability or age. "One off" surveys are also not included.
2 For some collections, the types of information shown have been built up over time; e.g. data on ethnic origin may not have been collected for as long as those for age.
3 The population surveys listed are commissioned by the Department but carried out by others (eg ONS).

From 2002 work to counter fraud and corruption in the Department of Health vote 2 budget will be the responsibility of the NHS counter fraud service.

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