Health sleuths in prescription blitz

NHS 'detectives' say they are tightening the screw on the borough's medicine cheats who are part of a national problem that costs the NHS nearly 80 million a year in lost revenue.

The health sleuths have launched a borough-wide publicity campaign to warn the medicine chancers: "We're coming to get you."

Posters are being displayed in pharmacies to hammer home the message that anyone caught freeloading could be fined over 100, with persistent offenders hit harder than that.

Mark Bishop, Doncaster Primary Care Trust's counter fraud specialist, said: "We're currently uncovering around 100 fraudulent claims a month from people who are basically stealing from the NHS. We can take civil action to recover the money or we can start criminal proceedings if someone continues to be a repeat offender.

"Every month we randomly select several of the borough's pharmacies to check all the prescriptions where patients have claimed an exemption from paying charges.

"Where our checks cannot prove the exemption is valid, we contact all the claimants and ask for proof that they are entitled to free prescriptions. If they are not, they face a fine and also have to refund the cost of the medicines."

NHS bosses are urging people who are not sure if they are eligible for free prescriptions to check rather than run the risk of being fined.

Leaflets are available from chemists, or patients can call 0845 850 1166.

Meanwhile, they are urging anyone who knows of fraud against the NHS to call the NHS Counter Fraud Service confidential hotline on 0800 028 4060.

TRADE

unions in Sheffield are backing workers at the Northern General Hospital, who are poised to strike after being told they face losing thousands of pounds of pay.

Staff in the bulk stores department face losing 2,000- 3,000 a year after a management decision to scrap their allowances and bonus.

The 15 staff, who prepare disposable medical equipment for the wards, have been balloted on strike action. The result will be known on Thursday night.

They are supported by their union, Unison, and also by Sheffield Trades Union Council, which represents workers in other occupations.

The Trades Union Council claims staff are being subject to "unjustifiable, cavalier, and unacceptable treatment" by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages adult hospitals including the Royal Hallamshire, Charles Clifford, Weston Park and Jessop Wing.

A Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust official said: "A number of organisational changes have taken place within the Trust, which has led to the re-assessment of job roles.