Strategic Intelligence Assessment 2023

The NHSCFA conducts an annual strategic intelligence assessment to estimate fraud losses, identify possible threats, vulnerabilities, and facilitators, and evaluate the risk of fraud to the NHS. This assessment also evaluates the NHSCFA's ability to counter and reduce this risk.

Published: 15/09/2023

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SIA 2023

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Foreword

Alex Rothwell, Chief Executive Officer of the NHSCFA, introduces the 2023 Strategic Intelligence Assessment.

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Executive summary

A brief overview of the NHS’s overall vulnerability to fraud, bribery and corruption.

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Introduction

Why the NHSCFA produces an annual strategic intelligence assessment, and how the content should be interpreted.

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The impact of COVID-19

How the pandemic has affected fraud reporting levels, the accuracy of activity data and the level of resources to combat fraud.

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How do we calculate fraud vulnerability

Our approach to assessing how financially vulnerable the NHS is to fraud.

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Annual reporting trends

Levels of fraud reporting received by the NHSCFA compared to previous periods.

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Procurement and commissioning of services fraud

Fraud relating to pre- and post-tender stages of the procurement and commissioning process, and mandate fraud

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Patient exemption

Fraud vulnerabilities relating to prescription charge evasion, dental charge evasion and optical voucher abuse.

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Data manipulation

Fraud relating to manipulation of data and payment systems to intentionally falsify performance in order to make a financial gain

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Community pharmaceutical contractor

Fraud relating to inappropriate claims for dispensing and enhanced services offered by community pharmacies, inflated claims under the drug tariff or activities that contravene contractual terms.

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General Practice (GP) contractor fraud

Fraud relating to the manipulation of income streams or activities that violate contractual terms perpetrated by either GPs or practice staff.

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Optical contractor fraud

Fraud relating to inappropriate claiming or dispensing at the optical practice, or care provided in homes, nursing, residential or day care facilities.

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Dental contractor fraud

Fraud relating to inappropriate claiming or dispensing at the dental practice relating to services delivered as defined by the contractual agreements, or private work carried out and its impact on the NHS.

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NHS staff fraud

Fraud relating to members of NHS staff who fraudulently inflate or falsify their income, expenses or working hours for financial gain, or who assume a false identity.

Fraudulent access to secondary care

Fraud relating to inappropriate access to NHS secondary care by foreign nationals who avoid payment for services delivered.

Reciprocal healthcare fraud

Fraud relating to overseas visitors claiming for treatment under reciprocal healthcare agreements when not entitled to do so.

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Previous strategic intelligence assessments

Read the NHSCFA’s annual assessments of the NHS’s financial vulnerability to fraud from 2016-17 onwards.

Corporate publications
Strategic Intelligence Assessment
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority Business Plan 2023-24
NHSCFA Strategy 2023-26
Strategic Intelligence Assessment 2023
NHSCFA Data Strategy

Relevant pages
IFAW 2023
Strategic Risk Tolerances
Sample social media posts for IFAW 2023
Annual Report and Accounts for 2022-2023 published
GovS 013 component 3: Fraud bribery and corruption risk assessment

We estimate that the NHS is vulnerable to £1.264 billion worth of fraud each year.

Report any suspicions or concerns about fraud against the NHS to the NHSCFA.

Help stop NHS Fraud. Start an online report >>

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