Former NHS resident doctor sentenced in £268,000 fraud case

Akinrolabu, aged 61 of Orpington in Kent, received his sentence at Woolwich Crown Court on 4 November, having previously pleaded guilty to all four counts of fraud by false representation at the same court on 3 September.

Akinrolabu had been employed as a Trust-grade specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology by the Princess Royal University Hospital in London, which forms part of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. A Trust-grade specialist registrar is a type of resident doctor.

Between October 2018 and December 2021, he worked on-call and night shifts at three additional NHS Trusts, despite informing his employer that he was unfit to do the same work for them. He worked these shifts while on sick leave or on reduced duties from his employer. As well as paying Dr Akinrolabu his full salary, the Trust was forced to employ locums to cover these shifts.

Night shifts

In November 2021, King’s College Hospital received information stating that Akinrolabu had been working night shifts at Basildon Hospital. Investigations conducted by the Trust’s local counter fraud team found that Akinrolabu had worked a number of on-call shifts in Basildon.

The Trust and NHSCFA investigators then obtained witness evidence revealing that Akinrolabu had also worked at Princess Alexandra Hospital, East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust and Mid-South Essex NHS Foundation Trust while on reduced duties from King’s College Hospital.

King’s College Hospital provided evidence confirming that Akinrolabu had neither sought nor received permission to carry out secondary employment. Timesheet and payroll information obtained from the other three NHS Trusts showed the majority of shifts that Akinrolabu had worked were at night and on-call, despite him claiming to be unfit to do either.

In June 2022, the local counter fraud team interviewed Akinrolabu under caution, during which he gave a ‘no comment’ response. Following further investigation by the NHSCFA, Akinrolabu was subsequently charged with four counts of fraud by false representation.

Personal gain

In sentencing, His Honour Judge David Miller said to Akinrolabu: “You lied to occupational health, your colleagues and your employer. The public doesn’t expect doctors to lie for personal gain.”

Ben Harrison, head of operations at the NHSCFA, observed: “This case demonstrates a clear and deliberate abuse of trust by an NHS professional who knowingly breached the conditions of his employment for personal gain.”

Harrison added: “By working additional on-call and night shifts, despite being unfit to do so, Akinrolabu defrauded the NHS of substantial funds that should have supported patient care.”

In conclusion, Harrison noted: “The NHS Counter Fraud Authority will continue to ensure that those who seek to exploit the NHS for their own benefit are identified and brought to justice.”

*Further information is available online at www.cfa.nhs.uk