11/06/2010

Hospital Official Jailed Over Fraud

An extensive investigation undertaken by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS) and the Metropolitan Police has yesterday culminated in a senior NHS manager being jailed.

The woman was convicted for defrauding the National Health Service of over £200,000.

Louise Tomkins, aged 47, of Faygate, Horsham, West Sussex address, pleaded guilty to one charge of making a false representation contrary to The Fraud Act 2006 covering the period July 2007 to September 2008.

She was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court yesterday to two years and nine months imprisonment. Confiscation proceedings have commenced to recover the falsely obtained monies.

Tomkins abused her position of trust as a general manager at the former Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust (now Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) and then interim Director of Operations for Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, to divert public money to fund her private horse and stud farm business.

Her role at the Hammersmith Hospital included acting as a Fund Advisor for Hospital Charitable Funds. Using falsified invoices Tomkins misused Charitable Funds for her own business.

Tomkins was suspended by Imperial College NHS Trust on 23 September 2008 shortly after allegations were first made. She was charged at Hammersmith and Fulham police station on 11 August 2009.

At a disciplinary hearing held by the Trust on 27 November 2009 she was dismissed for gross misconduct.

However, whilst under investigation, she continued to seek employment in the NHS using Employment Agencies. She even attempted to gain work under the names of Tonka Joud or Rosemarie Joud.

The investigation also prevented the payment of a substantial redundancy package of £41,944.00 being granted to Tomkins after she had brought a grievance against the Trust.

Following her earlier guilty plea, sentencing was adjourned by the court to allow Tomkins time to sell her horses to achieve the best possible prices in order to satisfy any future confiscation order.

(BMcC/GK)

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