Almost £1.5 million was recouped by anti-fraud units investigating professionals in the Northern Ireland’s health services sector last year, a new report has revealed.
Published by the watchdog Northern Ireland Audit Office, the report revealed details of the investigations into dentists, GP practices, opticians and pharmacists across the country.
The 2007/08 accounts of health trusts, boards and agencies were examined by the Counter Fraud Unit (CFU) of the Department of Health .
The report said: "The CFU continues to undertake investigations, in conjunction with health board colleagues, into pharmacists, opticians, dentists and GPs and/or their staff, where suspicion of fraud exists."
"In 2007/08, investigations into practitioners resulted in total savings to the public purse of more than £1.4 million."
The Audit Office described fraud in the heath and social care sector as "unacceptable".
It also revealed that an additional £3,000 in dodgy claims was recouped from dental practitioners in Northern Ireland .
The dental professionals were found to have falsely claimed exemption from payments for prescriptions and dental and ophthalmic treatment .
