I am pleased to introduce the NHS Counter Fraud Authority Annual Report and Accounts for 2023-2024.
There have been lots of changes and activity within the NHSCFA over the past year - I was due to step down as Chair of our Board, but this was extended to allow recruitment of my successor to take place. I was delighted to be able to continue as Chair, which has seen the organisation continue to strengthen, expand and deliver in line with our three-year Strategy.
This has in part been through Project Athena, which you can read about in more detail in the report. Project Athena aims to deliver a dedicated response to fraud by identifying patterns in key areas using data analytics. Launched in February at the Counter Fraud Conference by Lord Markham, Project Athena is in its early stages. However, over the coming year there will be more to report in what it is achieving and how it is improving outcomes to help detect fraud within the NHS.
Over the past year we have recorded a number of significant achievements. This included an 11-year sentence for Hasan Abusheikha, the largest sentence the NHSCFA has ever achieved. Our colleagues who worked on these cases deserve a huge amount of credit for the diligence in bringing people who defraud the NHS to justice.
Whilst you can never be too sure what the future will bring, I am sure that this will be my last annual report message as Chair. It has been a pleasure to be Chair for the past six years at the NHSCFA. I will look back on this time with fond memories and wish the organisation the best for the future.
Tom Taylor FCCA FCPFA FCMI FIoD FHFMA
Chair