Fraudulent practice manager brought to justice by NHSCFA investigation

Posted to News on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 Share:

JULIE ANN Stevenson, a 63-year-old former NHS practice manager at the Castle Surgery in Neath, has been sentenced for the crime of defrauding the practice and the NHS Pension Authority over an 18-month period, thus gaining in excess of £35,000 in remuneration and pension monies to which she was not entitled. At the conclusion of a hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Stevenson was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Stevenson had worked as a practice manager for a period of over 25 years, commencing in 1997. She was initially employed as a practice manager in Pontardawe before being employed on a part-time basis as the operations manager by the Amman Tawe Partnership in 2014.

During a meeting that was held on 24 September 2018, Stevenson informed the surgery’s partners that the Castle Surgery practice in Neath had insufficient funds to pay the staff wages in October 2018. Due to the unprecedented circumstances, the matter was reported to NHS Counter Fraud Authority officers.

As a result of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority’s investigation, it was established that, during the period spanning 1 April 2016 through to 27 October 2018, Stevenson made unauthorised overtime claims totalling £18,506.30 (and equating to around 20-to-30 hours per month). She was able to do so by manipulating and circumventing financial data that she had entered into the practice’s GP Payroll system by amending her wages and dishonestly adding the overtime figures, which she also made pensionable.

At no point did Stevenson seek authorisation for the alleged overtime she worked, whether by the claims procedure or otherwise, in accordance with the Practices Overtime Policy. She had also increased her salary on a monthly basis, with the first occasion being identified as April 2016.

Guilty plea entered

On Friday 11 March 2022 at a Mention before His Honour Judge Geraint Walters, Mrs Stevenson pleaded guilty to the offence of Fraud by Abuse of Position, contrary to Section 1(4) of the Fraud Act 2006. The remaining counts were left to lie on file.

Stevenson appeared before His Honour Judge Geraint Walters at Swansea Crown Court, where she was told that the case clearly passed the Custody Threshold Test. However, an immediate custodial sentence is not required. Judge Walters said the offending represented a “significant fall from grace” for Stevenson from a well-paid position of trust. The Judge duly sentenced Stevenson to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Recovery of vital funds

Robert Neil Jones, a local counter fraud specialist, stated: “Mrs Stevenson has repaid the full amount of compensation to the NHS Pensions Authority of £43,968.66, which included an overpayment of pension totalling £7,754.68 and £36,213.98 for a lump sum benefit payment to which she was not entitled. However, she has received a true and accurate payment following a case review and based on her true income. This is a vital recovery of funds and also a significant win in the fight against fraud that affects the National Health Service.”

In addition, Stevenson has also repaid the Neath practice the sum of her unauthorised overtime claim. Further, she was ordered to pay £1,000.00 investigation and prosecution costs together with £128.00 in court costs.

Robert Neil Jones was commended on both the investigation process and the outcome of the case.

The NHS Counter Fraud Authority is a Special Health Authority established under the NHS Act 2006 as amended. It’s sponsored by the Department for Health and Social Care and directly accountable to its Anti-Fraud Unit.