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Nurse fined for qualification fraud

Published on 9 Dec 2009 under category: legal

A nurse has been fined due to a fake qualification scam.

Lee Sutherland lied about the exams that he had passed in order to obtain a senior position in Gloucestershire's ambulance service.

He was found to have falsely claimed to hold a diploma in critical care.

The 34-year-old was ordered to pay £1,000 and £800 in costs by Swindon Crown Court after admitting that he committed fraud by false representation.

Debbie Lloyd, south west operational fraud manager for the NHS, said: "It is sad that Sutherland chose to overstretch himself and risk ruining his reputation rather than work honestly in a suitable job, but the public rightly demands integrity in the emergency services."

It is thought that the fraud cost the Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust around £46,000.

This figure is made up of Sutherland's salary and National Insurance payments.

Recently, a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers suggested that the heads of firms should take an active role in preventing fraud.

If you require advice on Corporate Fraud please call us on +44 (0)20 7831 0101 and ask for Dan Hyde.