Faith Chareka, 44, of Edinburgh Way, Banbury, appeared at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday 16 April 2025, having pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, contrary to S2 of the Fraud Act 2006, at a hearing at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on 5 September 2024.
On 21 April 2023, Chareka was suspended from her position with Frimley Heath NHS Foundation Trust as a Senior Sister in the Emergency Department at Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, after allegations of fraud were raised.
An internal investigation by the Trust found that, between 4 December 2020 and 9 April 2023, Chareka had been misusing the Trust’s HealthRoster system by adding extra shifts for herself and claiming for bank shifts, neither of which she worked but was still paid for, totalling £19,575.41.
She had been employed by the Trust since 24 January 2013 and, due to her senior position, had full administrative access to her team on the HealthRoster system. This allowed her to allocate and modify staff members’ shifts, including her own.
In May 2023, Chareka was voluntarily interviewed under caution, where she admitted to fraud against the NHS.
She attended a hearing at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on 5 September 2024, where she pleaded guilty to the charges. At the subsequent sentencing at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday 16 April 2025, she was handed an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work. In addition, she must undertake 15 rehabilitation days.
NHSCFA Financial Investigators are now using their powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002 to trace, restrain and recover these lost funds.
Gareth Robins, Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) who led on the case, said following the sentencing:
“Chareka abused the trust placed in her by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and her extremely hard-working colleagues.
“She claimed to have worked hours when she hadn’t set foot in the hospital, forcing her dedicated colleagues to work additional hours to cover for her, when she was taking time off in lieu of those hours falsely claimed. She also received payment for many of these shifts that she hadn’t worked.
“It's hoped that this serves as a reminder to the dishonest minority who knowingly commit fraud against the NHS that there are consequences for their actions.
“I also want to highlight the hardworking staff in the Emergency Department at Wexham Park Hospital, who had to work extra shifts to cover for Chareka’s absence.”
Matt Joint, Chief People Officer at Frimley Heath NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are committed to tackling fraud in the NHS wherever we find it.
“The vast majority of our staff are honest hard-working people and we encourage them to report any suspicions so we can work with Counter Fraud Specialists to investigate.”