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| Asbo man 'used A&E like hotels' | Asbo man 'used A&E like hotels' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A man was given an Asbo after he faked drug overdoses to stay in hospital, government fraud investigators say. | |
| Mark Smith, 33, from Newtown, Powys, is banned from hospitals except in a real emergency or with written permission. | Mark Smith, 33, from Newtown, Powys, is banned from hospitals except in a real emergency or with written permission. |
| The NHS Counter Fraud Service claimed he used casualty units "like hotels" on 320 occasions over a 14-year period. | |
| Smith was bailed at Welshpool magistrates after admitting attempted deception over NHS travel expenses.He will be sentenced next month. | |
| He will be sentenced on 25 September for claiming £200 worth of travel expenses from the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. | He will be sentenced on 25 September for claiming £200 worth of travel expenses from the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. |
| Not only did he use hospitals as hotels and ambulances as a taxi service, he harassed staff and patients Dermid McCausland, NHS Counter Fraud Service | Not only did he use hospitals as hotels and ambulances as a taxi service, he harassed staff and patients Dermid McCausland, NHS Counter Fraud Service |
| Details of the anti-social behaviour order emerged after his appearence in court on the attempted deception charges. | Details of the anti-social behaviour order emerged after his appearence in court on the attempted deception charges. |
| The order made on 7 August means that, other than in emergencies, Smith can only be admitted to hospitals in England and Wales with written permission from health officials, such as a GP. | The order made on 7 August means that, other than in emergencies, Smith can only be admitted to hospitals in England and Wales with written permission from health officials, such as a GP. |
| Investigators estimate Smith has cost the NHS an estimated £117,000 in staff time, medicine and accommodation. | Investigators estimate Smith has cost the NHS an estimated £117,000 in staff time, medicine and accommodation. |
| According to the NHS, it is only the second time an order had been issued for such an offence in the UK. | According to the NHS, it is only the second time an order had been issued for such an offence in the UK. |
| It is believed to be first of its kind in Wales. | It is believed to be first of its kind in Wales. |
| The case was brought by the NHS Counter Fraud Service following a tip-off to its anti-fraud line in January 2006. | The case was brought by the NHS Counter Fraud Service following a tip-off to its anti-fraud line in January 2006. |
| In a statement, the service said that between 1993 and 2007, Smith visited accident and emergency departments in major cities around the UK on at least 320 occasions. | In a statement, the service said that between 1993 and 2007, Smith visited accident and emergency departments in major cities around the UK on at least 320 occasions. |
| It is alleged that he misused hospitals in Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, and Manchester. | It is alleged that he misused hospitals in Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, and Manchester. |
| Speaking outside the court on Tuesday, the service's fraud specialist David Rees said "he had not seen a case like it before". | Speaking outside the court on Tuesday, the service's fraud specialist David Rees said "he had not seen a case like it before". |
| Dermid McCausland, acting managing director of the NHS Counter Fraud Service said in a statement that Smith's "systematic abuse" of the NHS was "completely unacceptable". | Dermid McCausland, acting managing director of the NHS Counter Fraud Service said in a statement that Smith's "systematic abuse" of the NHS was "completely unacceptable". |
| 'Lives at risk' | 'Lives at risk' |
| "Mr Smith's actions meant valuable staff time and resources were wasted," he said. | "Mr Smith's actions meant valuable staff time and resources were wasted," he said. |
| "Not only did he use hospitals as hotels and ambulances as a taxi service, he harassed staff and patients. | "Not only did he use hospitals as hotels and ambulances as a taxi service, he harassed staff and patients. |
| "By stopping staff from treating genuine patients, blocking beds and increasing waiting times, he put lives at risk." | "By stopping staff from treating genuine patients, blocking beds and increasing waiting times, he put lives at risk." |
| Sentencing for the charges of attempted deception was adjourned for psychiatric and alcohol assessment reports. | Sentencing for the charges of attempted deception was adjourned for psychiatric and alcohol assessment reports. |