Former NHS GP practice manager sentenced for £144,000-plus fraud

Kellie Preece, aged 45 of Charter Road in Rugby, received her sentence at a hearing at Warwick Crown Court on 15 September. She had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Fraud by Abuse of Position at Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 15 August.

Preece was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, as well as 20 hours’ worth of of rehabilitation. She will also be electronically tagged for four months.

Preece was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, as well as 20 hours’ worth of of rehabilitation. She will also be electronically tagged for four months.

NHSCFA investigators will now use their powers through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to reclaim some of the stolen funds.

Preece was employed as a GP practice manager at the Westside Medical Centre in Rugby, Warwickshire. In her role, she had control of all banking, including salary payments and paying locum doctors when they submitted invoices.

Money transfers

In January 2021, Preece began fraudulently obtaining funds from the practice by transferring money from the surgery to her own bank account. She hid these payments by labelling them as payments to others.

Preece paid herself salary increases and overtime payments beyond the agreed terms. These began as minor amounts, but then grew into significantly larger sums, none of which were authorised by the practice partners.

In total, Preece stole £144,864.13 from the practice. She attempted to cover the payments by creating false invoices, in the hope that they would go undetected.

Ben Harrison, head of operations at the NHSCFA, explained: “This case demonstrates how an individual in a position of trust sought to exploit NHS resources for personal gain. By manipulating payments and falsifying records, Preece attempted to conceal her actions, but her fraud was uncovered. We work to ensure that such abuses are identified and prosecuted, in turn protecting NHS funds for patient care.”