Practice data controller jailed for record tampering

A data administrator at a North London medical centre has been jailed for tampering with records using the practice’s computer system to receive extra payments from the NHS.

Vinod Thapar, 62, of Fairgreen, Cockfosters, admitted four accounts of altering medical records and obtaining property by deception after falsifying contracts at the Silver Street Medical Centre, Edmonton.

He was discovered after an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service, which found Thapar had been altering patient records and claiming for extra services the practice had not used for ten years, to ensure the practice received additional incentives from the NHS.

A NHS Counter Fraud spokesperson told E-Health Insider: “Mr Thapar had been manipulating data on the practice’s EMIS system to make it look like patients had been attending appointments that they actually hadn’t. In particular, he would target female patients and manipulate figures to show that they [the practice] had performed a large number of smear tests, exceeding targets by up to 80% and receiving additional funds for this.”

Over the course of his ten years at the practice, it is believed Thapar defrauded Enfield and Haringey PCT out of at least £37,500.

At his court case At Southwark Crown Court, colleagues said he would repeatedly insist staff amend patient’s medical profiles to enable him to claim for target bonuses he was not entitled to. One patient had not been to the medical centre since 1983, but her records claimed she had been examined in 1997 and 2003.

He also asked employees to sign a series of bogus Access to Work forms, allowing the practice to claim money back for employing support workers to assist a disabled doctor at the practice – neither existed.

Thapar was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was ordered to pay £37,500 compensation to the PCT and £40,000 in court costs.

Judge Geoffrey Riolvin said: “What you did over a substantial period of time was unethical in the extreme. In fact it could have resulted in the delay of important medical tests for patients and indeed put their lives at risk.

“You abused an important position of trust to steal money from the National Health Service. It is in my view an offence so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence would be appropriate.”

All patients that were affected by the actions of Vinod Thapar were contacted by the PCT following his arrest on 2 July 2004.

Enfield and Haringey PCT ‘s chief executive, Sally Johnson, said: “Enfield PCT takes fraud very seriously. The PCT has spent many hours working with NHS Counter Fraud and the Metropolitan Police Economic and Specialist Crime Unit to secure this conviction. The sentence sends out a strong message that NHS fraud is unacceptable. It not only diverts precious NHS resources, it endangers patient care.”

NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management told EHI that they were alerted to the situation after an allegation was reported and urges anyone who suspects foul play to do the same.

“Fraud is a serious offence and can put patient’s lives at risks in the most extreme cases. If anyone has any suspicions, they should report them to us. Tampering with patient records is not acceptable at any time.”