This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7488926.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Corrupt lawyer cheated hospitals | Corrupt lawyer cheated hospitals |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A solicitor defrauded the health service of more than £270,000 over eight years, the Audit Office has said. | A solicitor defrauded the health service of more than £270,000 over eight years, the Audit Office has said. |
| Most of the late George Brangam's fraud involved medical negligence cases, the government watchdog found. | Most of the late George Brangam's fraud involved medical negligence cases, the government watchdog found. |
| He would invoice health boards for more money than the case had actually been settled for, then keep the extra cash, ranging from £1,250 up to £75,000. | He would invoice health boards for more money than the case had actually been settled for, then keep the extra cash, ranging from £1,250 up to £75,000. |
| Auditors found the fraud could have been detected earlier if existing financial controls had been used. | Auditors found the fraud could have been detected earlier if existing financial controls had been used. |
| A senior partner in legal firm Brangam, Bagnall and Co, George Brangam died last August. | A senior partner in legal firm Brangam, Bagnall and Co, George Brangam died last August. |
| At the time of his death, he was under investigation by the PSNI Fraud Squad for his work on NHS compensation proceedings. | At the time of his death, he was under investigation by the PSNI Fraud Squad for his work on NHS compensation proceedings. |
| There is no evidence that Mr Brangam's partner in the firm, Fiona Bagnall, now a magistrate, knew anything about his activities. | |
| Irregularities | Irregularities |
| In July 2006, the Causeway HSS Trust informed the Department of Health of potential irregularities. | In July 2006, the Causeway HSS Trust informed the Department of Health of potential irregularities. |
| Within a period of less than five weeks, his practice was shut down by the Law Society. | Within a period of less than five weeks, his practice was shut down by the Law Society. |
| Money that could have been spent on front-line activity in the health service was siphoned out of the system NI Audit Office | Money that could have been spent on front-line activity in the health service was siphoned out of the system NI Audit Office |
| Auditor General John Dowdall said the lawyer systematically defrauded six of the 11 health bodies he provided legal services to on a known 28 occasions over an eight-year period. | Auditor General John Dowdall said the lawyer systematically defrauded six of the 11 health bodies he provided legal services to on a known 28 occasions over an eight-year period. |
| "There is a possibility that the extent of fraud committed by George Brangam was higher than determined by available evidence," he said. | "There is a possibility that the extent of fraud committed by George Brangam was higher than determined by available evidence," he said. |
| According to the report, management in some health bodies were "not sufficiently alert to the risk from fraud". | According to the report, management in some health bodies were "not sufficiently alert to the risk from fraud". |
| "Money that could have been spent on front-line activity in the health service was siphoned out of the system," it said. | "Money that could have been spent on front-line activity in the health service was siphoned out of the system," it said. |
| 'Key lessons' | 'Key lessons' |
| The report said it was not unreasonable to expect services to be rendered with integrity and honesty by professionals. | The report said it was not unreasonable to expect services to be rendered with integrity and honesty by professionals. |
| But it added: "One of the key lessons of this case is that it is not appropriate or sufficient to rely on this. | But it added: "One of the key lessons of this case is that it is not appropriate or sufficient to rely on this. |
| "It is management's responsibility to exercise proper care and attention in the area of legal and litigation services by ensuring adequate controls are in place and that they are complied with." | "It is management's responsibility to exercise proper care and attention in the area of legal and litigation services by ensuring adequate controls are in place and that they are complied with." |
| Patricia McKeown of health union Unison said she hoped measures would be put into place to prevent such fraud ever happening again. | Patricia McKeown of health union Unison said she hoped measures would be put into place to prevent such fraud ever happening again. |
| "I want to see this whole process of how the government spends its money on buying in goods and services open and transparent. I think the public needs to know and be confident that it's all being protected from here on in." | "I want to see this whole process of how the government spends its money on buying in goods and services open and transparent. I think the public needs to know and be confident that it's all being protected from here on in." |
| The Law Society said it "expects professional standards of its members at all times, including that they act with integrity and honesty". | The Law Society said it "expects professional standards of its members at all times, including that they act with integrity and honesty". |
| It added: "The society has also made recommendations for improvement of public sector litigation management which we note the Audit Office has accepted." | It added: "The society has also made recommendations for improvement of public sector litigation management which we note the Audit Office has accepted." |