Strategy summary

This health service strategy aligns with the government’s ambitions and drive to reform the NHS.

This strategy has been developed to work in partnership with and drive the delivery of the health sector’s objectives. The counter fraud community must support and stand alongside the health sector, supporting it to address the challenges and priorities it faces. Reflecting the scale and complexity of the NHS, the counter fraud response and offer must evolve to meet current and future demands across the sector.

This health service strategy aligns with the government’s ambitions and drive to reform the NHS. The strategy reflects the 10-Year Health Plan focusing on prevention, digitalisation and supporting strengthened counter fraud resilience across the sector as services are redesigned and move into alternative settings. The strategy includes two additional ambitions focused on strengthening sector-wide counter fraud collaboration and building a more resilient, system-wide counter fraud function.

Strengthening Counter Fraud Resilience Across the Health System Infographic showing how the health service strategy strengthens counter fraud resilience in line with NHS reform. The graphic highlights three core areas: driving prevention by embedding fraud‑resilient principles into service design and governance; digitalisation through the use of technology, data analytics and automation to detect, investigate and prevent fraud; and strengthening healthcare systems by embedding counter fraud principles into commissioning, governance and accountability to support a resilient, system‑wide counter fraud approach. Digitalisation Leveraging digitalisation, technology, advanced data analytics, and automation to detect, investigate and prevent fraud. This includes the use of unified datasets, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights to identify patterns and systemic weaknesses before losses occur. Healthcare systems Embedding counter fraud principles into healthcare models and commissioning frameworks. As services decentralise, robust counter fraud governance, clear accountability and cultural change will ensure fraud prevention and response becomes routine. Driving prevention Embedding fraud prevention into NHS service design and governance from the outset, ensuring reforms incorporate fraud-resilient principles and enabling leaders to act early on vulnerabilities.
Strengthening Counter Fraud Resilience Across the Health System Infographic showing how the health service strategy strengthens counter fraud resilience in line with NHS reform. The graphic highlights three core areas: driving prevention by embedding fraud‑resilient principles into service design and governance; digitalisation through the use of technology, data analytics and automation to detect, investigate and prevent fraud; and strengthening healthcare systems by embedding counter fraud principles into commissioning, governance and accountability to support a resilient, system‑wide counter fraud approach. Driving preventionEmbedding fraud preventioninto NHS service designand governance from the outset,ensuring reforms incorporatefraud-resilient principlesand enabling leaders to actearly on vulnerabilities. DigitalisationLeveraging digitalisation,technology, advanced dataanalytics, and automation todetect, investigate and preventfraud. This includes the use of unified datasets, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights to identifypatterns and systemicweaknesses beforelosses occur. Healthcare systemsEmbedding counter fraudprinciples into healthcare models and commissioning frameworks. As services decentralise, robust counter fraud governance, clear accountabilityand cultural change will ensurefraud prevention and responsebecomes routine.

Strategic connections

Expanding connections and leading discourse on counter fraud to drive cultural change and innovation. We will engage with NHS bodies, regulators, academia and professional networks to position fraud resilience and response as core enablers of patient safety and system performance.

Resilience and performance

The NHSCFA will create an integrated counter fraud operating model aligned with evolving NHS structures, clarifying roles, strengthening coordination, and enabling agile responses to complex fraud risks. This will enhance the NHSCFA’s capability to prevent, detect and recover financial losses. Working with DHSC, we will explore legislative reforms to accelerate recovery, strengthen compliance and improve deterrence, delivering measurable savings of at least £600 million by 2029.

The strategy is built on the core principle of ‘Counter Fraud by Design’, embedding fraud resilience into system re-design from the outset. We will combine current counter fraud measures with innovation, harnessing big data, digitalisation, automation and advanced data analytics to stay ahead of emerging threats. We will continue to work collectively with the four nations to drive consistent counter fraud standards and best practice.

At the heart of this strategy is the delivery of health-wide counter fraud savings. The NHSCFA will be the central point for collating, assuring and reporting the delivery of £600 million in system-wide counter fraud savings, providing leadership and oversight across the sector. The ambitions set out in this strategy are designed to support the sector to deliver efficiencies and financial objectives whilst also strengthening the NHS’s overall capability to prevent, detect and respond to fraud.

By 2029, we will aim to have fraud resilient practice embedded across the health system. Intelligence will be dynamic, enabling proactive intervention. Counter fraud will be a driver of patient safety, enhancing efficiencies, financial sustainability and operational excellence, ensuring that every pound intended for patient care reaches its destination and supports a stronger, fairer and more resilient NHS for the future.

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