Industry News: NHS to Embrace No Win No Fee
The National Health Service is to make use of the no win no fee claims system in order to recoup money lost to fraud.
The NHS Counter Fraud Service has reached an agreement with a law firm who will help recoup lost money and provide legal advice and representation to the NHS at a special rate.
According the health service, approximately £6m is returned every year following legal action against fraud, although this is said to be a fraction of the total cost of fraud to the NHS.
The head of operations at the Fraud Service, Allan Carter, said he believed that no win no fee would benefit the NHS in their pursuit of fraudsters. ‘We want to help get more funds back into the health service and I think this agreement will help us do that,’ he said.
When it comes to tackling fraud, the NHS has two routes to choose from: criminal or civil action.
Either of these routes can present a series of difficulties. Civil action uses up large amounts of time and resources, while in criminal cases a judge may not order the return of funds.
Collaboration with the law firm and use of the no win no fee system is expected to make it easier for the NHS to pursue civil action.
