Charlotte Woodward, 35, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday 24 April 2025, having earlier pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, contrary to S2 of the Fraud Act 2006, at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates Court on 30 January 2025.
Woodward was employed by Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust as a senior nurse and created and authorised 57 shifts that had not been worked between 19 November 2021 and 19 March 2022, causing a loss to the NHS of £21,562.86.
As part of an investigation undertaken by TIAA Local Counter Fraud Specialists, it was discovered that Woodward had not been on duty for the shifts claimed and used her matron login details to create and authorise false shifts. Woodward was interviewed under caution and made a full admission and was subsequently dismissed from her employment.
An OUH spokesperson said:
"We take any incidences of fraud incredibly seriously here at OUH. We took immediate action and opened an investigation as soon as these discrepancies came to light. The member of staff in question no longer works for the trust."
NHS Counter Fraud Authority Financial Investigators are now using their powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002 to recover the losses incurred by the Trust.