Information requested
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting the following information about Project WISE, the workforce-fraud initiative described in your Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026. Where any single part cannot be answered, please answer the remaining parts rather than refusing the request as a whole.
- The date Project WISE was launched.
- The number of NHS trusts (and any other NHS organisations) that have participated in Project WISE, and a list naming those organisations. If you consider naming them exempt, please provide the number and their regions.
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For the period since launch to the date of this request, in
aggregate/statistical form:
- the number of fraud indicators or anomalies flagged by the Project WISE analytics;
- the number of those referred to local counter-fraud teams or LCFS for investigation;
- the number that resulted in a confirmed case of fraud, and the number closed with no case to answer;
- a breakdown of confirmed or suspected cases by fraud type (e.g. working while on sick leave, undeclared dual employment, conflicts of interest, other).
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The total financial value of fraud or loss:
- identified;
- recovered or prevented through Project WISE to date;
- broken down by the categories of fraud type set out under question 3(d).
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The cost of the programme:
- to date;
- forecast over its lifetime.
- Any evaluation, business case, or decision document concerning a potential national roll-out of Project WISE, including any recommendation made to the Board or to DHSC.
NHSCFA response
Question 1
Project WISE was publicly launched on 27 November 2025.
Project WISE is a pilot initiative designed to test the application of advanced analytical techniques to workforce fraud risks within the NHS. It builds upon analytical capability developed through NHSCFA's Project Athena programme and seeks to identify anomalies and patterns within data which may indicate fraud or wider control weaknesses.
Question 2
Five NHS trusts are participating in the Project WISE pilot:
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
These organisations were identified publicly when Project WISE was launched. The pilot operates across NHS organisations in Hampshire and Dorset and involves collaboration between NHSCFA, participating organisations and local counter fraud teams.
Question 3
Project WISE remains an ongoing pilot. Its purpose is not simply to generate individual investigation referrals, but to test how analytical techniques can be used alongside local counter fraud expertise to identify potential workforce fraud risks, develop intelligence, strengthen controls and support preventative action.
At the date of this request, the pilot has not reached the stage at which final and validated aggregate outcome data is held for the measures requested at 3(a)–(d).
In particular, NHSCFA does not currently hold finalised aggregate figures showing:
- the total number of fraud indicators or anomalies identified through the completed pilot;
- the number subsequently referred for investigation;
- the number resulting in confirmed fraud or closed with no case to answer;
- a final breakdown of confirmed or suspected cases by fraud type.
Analytical indicators or anomalies are not, in themselves, evidence that fraud has occurred. They require further assessment and, where appropriate, referral or investigation before an outcome can be determined.
It would therefore be potentially misleading to describe preliminary analytical outputs as confirmed or suspected fraud cases before that process has been completed.
The effectiveness and outcomes of the pilot will be assessed when sufficient activity has been completed to enable meaningful evaluation.
Question 4
For the same reason, NHSCFA does not currently hold a finalised financial value for fraud or loss identified, recovered or prevented as a result of Project WISE, either in aggregate or broken down by fraud type.
Any financial impact attributable to the project will need to be established and validated following the relevant assessment, investigative and/or preventative activity. This will form part of the evaluation of the pilot.
Accordingly, there is currently no validated financial value held that can be provided in response to parts 4(a), 4(b) or 4(c).
Question 5
Project WISE does not have a separately identified or ring-fenced programme budget. The work is being undertaken as part of NHSCFA's existing counter fraud activity, using existing analytical, intelligence, prevention and operational capability.
Consequently, NHSCFA does not hold a separate programme cost to date or a separate forecast lifetime cost for Project WISE in the form requested.
The initiative is currently being undertaken as a pilot. Its duration is linked to completion of the pilot activity and subsequent evaluation rather than to a separately funded programme with a fixed lifetime budget.
The evaluation will consider the results and impact of the pilot, including its effectiveness and return on investment, and will help inform decisions about any potential wider application of the approach across the NHS.
Question 6
Project WISE is currently at the pilot and evaluation stage. No final decision has been taken on national roll-out.
The pilot has specifically been designed to test the approach and generate evidence that can inform consideration of whether, and how, the methodology might be applied more widely across the NHS.
This includes assessing the effectiveness of the analytical approach, operational outcomes, opportunities for fraud prevention and return on investment.
A full evaluation will therefore be undertaken following the pilot activity.
Any future decision regarding wider adoption would be informed by the evidence and learning obtained through the pilot rather than having been predetermined at its outset.