30/03/2010

A senior manager worked for 19 years within the NHS despite the fact that he did not possess the university qualifications and memberships of professional bodies to which he laid claim in his application forms.

These were essential criteria for the posts Hasan Tahsin held at five different NHS trusts but he was only exposed when an audit of senior managers’ qualifications was carried out by Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust where he was working as Head of Estates and Capital Projects.

Mr Tahsin was found to have fraudulently earned £245,246, between March 2004 and March 2009, as a result of making false claims about his credentials.

He has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and to perform 200 hours of unpaid community work, following an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service.

In 2008–09, the Service successfully prosecuted 69 criminal cases with a 96% success rate.

Investigating officer Alan McGill said: "Such deceptions are the exception and the vast majority of NHS staff are of high integrity. This case demonstrates that when suspicions of fraud are brought to the attention of the NHS Counter Fraud Service, we will thoroughly investigate and, where fraud is found, will seek to prosecute."