Alec Gandy has been locked up for his scam
Alec Gandy has been jailed(Image: )
This is the first picture of a manager who fleeced more than £123,000 from the NHS trust where he worked.
Alec Gandy was working as a senior operational manager at the former Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust when he stole public funds.
The 43-year-old set up ex-wife Kaylee Wright and friend Matthew Lane as ‘ghost’ contractors’ in a financial system so that he could funnel cash to their personal accounts.
Gandy would authorise invoices for non-existent services, with cash paid to his accomplices before they transferred a portion of their ill-gotten gains back to him.
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An audit took place after Gandy quit his role, with the trust suspecting fraudulent activity and alerting the NHS Counter Fraud Authority.
Financial analysis revealed that Gandy spent more than £92,000 of the cash on gambling and transferred £12,000 to his own business.
In a statement read to the court, the trust’s director of finance said the money could have been used to improve patient care.
This could have been through the provision of additional roles within GP practices to supply more healthcare appointments for patients.
Funds also could have paid for four nursing associates, two community paramedics or two clinical pharmacists for a year.
Gandy, of Housman Way, Cleobury Mortimer, near Kidderminster, admitted fraud by abuse of position and was jailed for two-and-half-years on Friday, January 16.
Lane, 44, and Wright, 38, admitted money laundering,
Lane, now of Peggs Way, Basingstoke, was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours unpaid work.
Wright, of Larks Rise, Cleobury Mortimer, was made subject to an 18-month community order, with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Ben Harrison, head of operations at the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, said: “This outcome endorses the value of our robust and objective approach to ensuring that anyone who attempts to defraud the NHS is brought to justice.
“This was a calculated scheme that diverted significant public funds away from frontline patient care.
“Our investigation, with the support of West Mercia Police, uncovered a deliberate abuse of position, with Gandy exploiting his senior role to manipulate NHS payment systems for personal gain.
“The NHS Counter Fraud Authority remains firmly committed to working tirelessly to protect vital NHS resources and we will continue to pursue those who seek to defraud our health service.
“We encourage anyone with suspicions of fraud against the NHS to report it through our confidential reporting channels.”
Ben Reid, specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This case represents a serious breach of trust that diverted vital NHS funds meant for patient care.
“Gandy abused his position of responsibility as a public servant, while Lane and Wright knowingly participated in the scheme to facilitate this fraud.
“Fraud is not victimless and when such crimes are committed, they have a range of impacts – in this case, not only was money defrauded from the Trust, but time and money had to be spent on an internal investigation.
“The sentences handed down reflect the gravity of these offences against our public services.
“The CPS will continue to work closely with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority to ensure that those who seek to defraud the NHS are brought to justice.”
Read the full story from court here.
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