We are really sorry but the page you have tried to
navigated to cannot be accessed out of the normal sequence of
completing the report.
Please use the menu to the leftbelow to access the different
sections of the report. Menu links with a green tick indicate the
sections of your report that you have successfully completed. A red
cross indicates sections of the report that still need completing.
To continue with your report please visit the last
completed section of the report and proceed from there.
When you contact NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), you don't have
to give us any information about yourself unless you want to. Telling us
who you are may help us to investigate matters more quickly and
effectively, but you can choose not to give us your name if you prefer.
All information you provide will be treated in complete confidence.
There are three ways of reporting that determine how your personal
details are handled. You can find out more about each by clicking on the
headings below.
Choose this category if you have no concerns about
your personal details being linked to the information
you are providing (or if you are reporting something in
an official capacity as part of your job). This means
that your details will be held with the information and
made available to the investigating officer. This will
allow us to contact you easily if anything needs to be
clarified.
Choose this category if you are happy to provide your
personal details to NHSCFA but would like your personal
details separated from the information you are
providing. Measures will be taken on receipt to ensure
that the information that you have provided does not
reveal your identity. Your personal details will not be
disclosed to anyone including the investigating officer
without your permission unless we are obliged by law, or it is in the wider public
interest.
Disclosure obliged by law or in the
public interest
NHSCFA take their duty of confidence to people
reporting issues to them very seriously and do not
routinely disclose any personal details submitted as
confidential without permission.
However, in rare circumstances there are
exceptions to the duty of confidence that may allow
disclosure of confidential information.
The law can require or permit the
disclosure of confidential information in
certain circumstances, and the Courts may also
order disclosures.
Confidentiality can be breached where there
is an overriding public interest.
Only where serious crime, abuse or serious harm
to others is involved would NHSCFA be permitted to
disclose personal information without consent. They
must judge that the public good that would be
achieved by the disclosing of the information would
far outweigh their obligation of confidentiality.
This is very rare and NHSCFA would have to robustly
justify their decision to do so.
Wherever possible the matter would be discussed
with the individual concerned and consent sought.
Choose this category if you would prefer to remain
completely anonymous in your dealings with NHSCFA. We
will not ask you for your name or any contact details.
Please be sure to provide as much information and detail
as possible regarding the fraud, as we will not be able
to contact you again for further information.
Employees of Department of Health and
Social Care, NHS or wider health group - If you are
reporting concerns in respect of an area of business for
which you are responsible or in the course of your
official duties it is not usually appropriate to use
this option. Please consider using the LINKED option.
How to report fraud
You can report any concerns you have about fraud or
corruption in the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS and
wider health group using this secure and confidential online system.
If you prefer you can speak to one of our experienced call handlers on 0800
028 4060.
Whichever method you use to make your report, it is helpful if you
have all the relevant information to hand. This may include, for
example:
What sort of fraud do you think is taking place?
How are the health services affected by this activity?
Who is doing it?
Where is it happening?
When is it happening?
How long has it been going on?
Are any other people or organisations involved?
Can you outline any specific incidents that demonstrate
what is happening?
Any key dates?
The online system or the call handler will help you by taking you
through a series of questions designed to make sure you get the
opportunity to tell us all you know. Please remember you don't need to
know everything about the suspected fraud to make a report. However,
telling us everything you do know will help us deal with the matter
effectively.
When using the online form you will be able to attach supporting
documents to your report.
All information you provide will be handled professionally,
sensitively and in accordance with the law.
NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) investigates fraud and
corruption in the National Health Services. Our specialist staff will
quickly decide if the matter you are reporting is something they can
deal with or if it needs to be passed to another organisation.
Good factual information that is specific and supported by evidence
is more likely to result in an investigation. However, information based
on observation, local knowledge and opinion can still be valuable in
contributing to our knowledge and help us to protect the Department of
Health and Social Care, NHS and wider health group against fraud.
NHSCFA will consider the strength and relevance of the available
evidence to decide whether your information is suitable for
investigation. If it is, it will be allocated to a trained fraud
investigator, either locally at an NHS organisation or within a
specialist team at NHSCFA.
Investigations need to be planned and executed carefully and looking
into complex matters may take considerable time. It is likely that work
being undertaken will not be apparent to you.
It is not always possible to start an investigation for every item of
information we receive. However, we will always retain your information
to help increase our knowledge of Department of Health and Social Care,
NHS and wider health group fraud and we constantly review our decision
as new information becomes available.
Disclosure obliged by law or in the public interest
NHSCFA take their duty of confidence to people reporting issues
to them very seriously and do not routinely disclose any personal
details submitted as confidential without permission.
However, in rare circumstances there are exceptions to the duty
of confidence that may allow disclosure of confidential information.
The law can require or permit the disclosure of
confidential information in certain circumstances, and the
Courts may also order disclosures.
Confidentiality can be breached where there is an
overriding public interest.
Only where serious crime, abuse or serious harm to others is
involved would NHSCFA be permitted to disclose personal information
without consent. They must judge that the public good that would be
achieved by the disclosing of the information would far outweigh
their obligation of confidentiality. This is very rare and NHSCFA
would have to robustly justify their decision to do so.
Wherever possible the matter would be discussed with the
individual concerned and consent sought.
NHSCFA specifically collects information on behalf of the Department of
Health and Social Care, its arm's length bodies and executive agencies.
NHSCFA will pass on all information relating to the Department of Health
and Social Care its arm's length bodies and executive agencies to the Department of Health and Social Care Anti-Fraud Unit.
If the matter you are reporting is not for NHSCFA to deal with, we may
pass the information on to another anti-fraud agency or the police so
that it can be followed up by the right people. Please refer to the useful links area to look at other options for reporting your if you
don't think they are related to the NHS or the Department of Health and
Social Care, its arm's length bodies or executive agencies.
When you provide information to NHSCFA, you will be
given a reference number. You will be able to use this reference to
add information to your original report at any time.
Getting feedback on
your report
Can I get feedback?
The sensitive nature of criminal investigation work means that we
normally cannot keep you updated on the progress of any investigation,
discuss specific individuals or inform you of the outcome of an
investigation. This doesn't mean that your information was not important
and useful.
However, NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) are entitled to share
progress updates on the investigation with NHS Directors of Finance, NHS
England, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Police as
appropriate and feedback will also be provided to stakeholders who have
'account holder' status.
NHSCFA recognises the importance of witnesses who report crime and
when a formal investigation is established will strive to update formal
witnesses as appropriate.
We appreciate your patience and understanding in this
matter.
Attachment Limitations
Type of attachments - doc, docx, xls, xlsx, pdf, jpg, jpeg, gif, rtf,
bmp, png, tif and tiff.
4MB max size of each attachment
6 attachments per report
Where can you report
other issues?
If your report does not relate to fraud against the NHS in England or
Wales, then we will not be able to look into it. The table below
provides some pointers on who you can contact instead.
Fraud against NHS Scotland
Report it to NHS Scotland Counter Fraud
Services by using their online reporting form or calling the Fraud Hotline on 08000 15
16 28.
Fraud against Health and Social Care (HSC)
in Northern Ireland
Call the HSC Fraud Hotline on 0800 096 33
96 or report online.
Fraud against individuals, or against
organisations other than the NHS (including any frauds in
which you are the victim)
Theft, including theft of property
belonging to the NHS
Report it to the police by calling 101.
In an emergency always dial 999. We will
typically forward the report to the appropriate body (e.g. the police),
but it is better if you make your report directly to the agency which is
best placed to look into it. This will ensure it can be dealt with as
quickly and efficiently as possible.
You can also find further information in our useful
links area.
Your report is now with the Intelligence Unit at NHS
Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) and is waiting to be
read. All reports are read promptly by an officer as
soon as reasonably practicable.
The risk this matter presents to the NHS has been
assessed by the Intelligence Unit at NHSCFA and a formal
priority grading has been allocated to your report. This
enables us deal with the most pressing issues quickly.
Please note that reports received are not dealt with
chronologically and those presenting a greater risk to
the NHS are prioritised. Your report is now waiting in a
HIGH / MEDIUM or LOW queue to process.
An Intelligence Officer is now thoroughly reviewing
the information you have provided. They will need to
corroborate the information you have provided and
establish the facts. This involves comparing it to
existing intelligence and undertaking analysis and
research. It may also require the interview of relevant
third parties. It is possible that at this stage an
Intelligence Officer may contact you for further
information.
An Intelligence Report, which includes your original
information, has been developed and passed to Senior
Managers to authorise and determine the next course of
action.
It has been determined that the information available
supports the view that a fraud may have occurred. The
Intelligence Report has now been passed to the Local
Counter Fraud Officer (LCFS) responsible for the
relevant Health Body to progress this matter at a local
level.
The sensitive nature of criminal investigation work
means that with the commencement of a formal
investigation the Intelligence Unit will no longer
routinely provide progress updates through this system.
However, the investigating officer may need to contact
you during the period of investigation.
It has been determined that the information available
supports the view that a fraud may have occurred. An
Intelligence Package has now been developed and passed
to the National Investigation Team within NHSCFA to
progress this matter.
The sensitive nature of criminal investigation work
means that with the commencement of a formal
investigation the Intelligence Unit will no longer
routinely provide progress updates through this system.
However, the investigating officer may need to contact
you during the period of investigation.
It is not always possible for NHSCFA to initiate an
investigation into every matter that comes to attention.
In this instance it has been determined that this matter
cannot be progressed at this time. A reason for this
decision has been provided.
If related information is received from another
source, or if you are able to provide additional
information, this decision will be reviewed and can be
reconsidered.
Even though specific action has not been taken on
this individual report, it doesn't mean that your
information had no value. All information submitted to
NHSCFA has value as it contributes to a national picture
of fraud within the NHS which informs our strategic
priorities for the future and improves decision making.
Whistleblowing and Protected
Disclosures
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) provides a statutory
framework for protecting workers from harm if they blow the whistle on
their employer. With effect from 1 February 2016 NHS Counter Fraud
Authority (NHSCFA) is a 'prescribed person' under this act.
This means that if an employee tells NHSCFA about any suspected wrong
doing they believe may have occurred (including crimes and regulatory
breaches) they will qualify for the same employment rights as if they
had made a disclosure to their employer.
Providing information in this manner is know as 'whistleblowing' and
disclosures meeting the legal standards are called 'protected
disclosures'. To be classed as a 'protected disclosure' the disclosure
must be made in good faith and the person disclosing must reasonably
believe that the information disclosed is substantially true.
If a 'protected disclosure' is made the worker may have a right to
redress through the employment tribunal should they suffer a detriment
or be dismissed from work as a result of making that disclosure.
When a disclosure is made to the NHSCFA it is escalated beyond the
employer, and NHSCFA can upon the information that has been disclosed to
them.
