A woman has been sentenced to six months in jail for deliberately attempting to defraud the NHS some £4million. NHS Resolution pursued committal proceedings on behalf of North Bristol NHS Trust in line with its strategy to combat and deter fraud by dishonest claimants.
Holly White, from Rackenford, North Devon, was sentenced at a committal hearing on Thursday, May 26 and she has also been ordered to pay back £45,000 of interim payments and meet the trust's costs of the committal application. The court found that White, 29, had knowingly exaggerated the effect of injuries sustained from a delay in diagnosing spinal cord compression (causa equina syndrome), arising from care provided in 2011.
She had previously had her claim struck out by the court and, while she claimed to have mobility issues and had to use a crutch, video surveillance showed her walking normally without assistance. She also claimed that she wasn't able to drive for long periods without suffering a great deal of pain and discomfort, however evidence provided to the court showed she had driven for 40 miles without stopping and, on another occasion, drove 18 miles to attend a party.
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Helen Vernon, Chief Executive of NHS Resolution, said: “NHS Resolution does not take decisions lightly to commence Committal Proceedings, however, given the extent of the damages sought by the claimant in this case, it was felt this was appropriate action. This is a stark reminder to potential claimants in clinical negligence matters of the need to remain honest as to the extent of the damage and losses incurred.
"These proceedings should not deter genuine claimants, as the trust and NHS Resolution will continue to ensure that those who have suffered injury as a result of substandard medical care are properly compensated.”
In his remarks to her in court, His Honour Mr Justice Ritchie said that White does “present a risk to the public purse and public institutions as a result of your approach to your clinical negligence claim against a tax payer funded organisation.”
He added that her “contempts were deliberate and for your own benefit”, commenting “‘Miss White dishonestly and intentionally made false statements … those statements were made knowing that they would interfere with the administration of justice … this is not a case of mere exaggeration. The falsehoods propagated by Miss White and admitted to by her go far beyond exaggeration.”
In final remarks he told her: “I do not consider that suspending the sentence will get the message across to you sufficiently strongly that: defrauding the NHS, which is funded by the taxpayer is utterly unacceptable. Nor would it send out the right message to those currently suing NHS trusts or those who will do so in future.”
A North Bristol NHS Trust spokesperson said: “This was not a decision we took lightly, but it was important due to the size of the claim and the dishonesty involved. These proceedings should not deter genuine claimants as the Trust and NHS Resolution will continue to ensure that those who have suffered injury are appropriately compensated.”
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