What is the real cost to the NHS from fraudulent claims?
The real cost is met by patients who are not able to receive the treatment they deserve. We lose around 10 million a year on prescription fraud alone. That could provide another 400 nurses in our hospitals. We estimate we lose up to 140 million a year through fraud across all Family Health Services in Scotland. That money should be used where it will do most good. It could pay for hip operations, or coronary bypasses, or treating more patients in our communities. • How will the campaign develop? We have achieved a lot by making people more aware of the help that exists for those in greatest need, such as the NHS Low Income Scheme, but there is still a lot more we want to do. People on low incomes may have paid in the past for some items, like glasses and contact lenses or fabric supports. Now, if you are on a low income and your only capital is under the limits set in the Scheme, you can get help to pay for items like these. You can find leaflets about the Scheme at main Post Offices a
