A GP who made over 7,000 changes to patient records in three days in order to hit Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) targets has been sentenced to nine months in prison.
Dr Thirumurugan Sundaresan, who worked in Greater Manchester, stole over £62,000 from the NHS.
He falsely claimed for patient checks he had not carried out including digital retinopathy checks.
The unusual pattern of the practice’s output led to a fraud investigation supported by NHS Protect.
At court he pleaded guilty to two offences under the Fraud Act, and was ordered to pay £50,000 back to the NHS.
Pauline Smith, North West Area anti fraud specialist at NHS Protect, said “Dr Sundaresan defrauded NHS funds and could have put the health of patients at risk. Stealing from the NHS is not a victimless crime, as this case proves.
“NHS Protect worked closely with the Local Counter Fraud Specialist to obtain this successful result. We always push for the strongest possible sanctions for offenders”.
Dr Sundaresan has been suspended from his practice and has been referred to the General Medical Council.
