UK Cracking Down on Prescription Fraud

Many of the headlines today talk of pharmacies becoming the target of armed robberies as drug addicts seek to get their hands on OxyContin and other prescription medications in order to feed their addiction. Some may also target pharmacies to sell the medication on the street for the going rate.

In addition to such crimes, there are other addicts who prefer to take a less violent approach to securing their fix. A recent news report focuses on the efforts of the Dorset and Somerset Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (DAS) to reduce the number of individuals able to commit prescription fraud.

One woman has admitted to providing false names in three surgery incidents in order to gain access to codeine-based painkillers. She consumed as many as 150 tablets a day to feed her addiction.

This individual was jailed for a year and 28 days as a result of her actions. A fraud specialist with the NHS noted that catching the individual and putting her away so quickly helped to save the NHS money and resources in terms of lost appointments for genuine patients who truly need help.

The woman accused also faced 17 similar offenses which reportedly took place across Hampshire and Dorset. The judge in this case referred to the defendant as a ‘sad spectacle’ for abusing a system designed to help those in need of medical care.

For this offense, she was sentenced to 12 months. The 28-day sentence was for a shoplifting offense and the judge ordered that it be served consecutively with the 12 month sentence.