No action over NHS ‘fraud’ allegations
AN NHS counter-fraud investigation centred around one of Merseyside’s most prominent businessmen and public figures has found there was insufficient evidence to bring any charges.
The NHS Counter Fraud Service launched an investigation into allegations against Roy Morris, former chief executive of investment firm Rathbones Brothers and a deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside in September.
The investigation centred on his role as a non-executive director of Liverpool Women’s Hospital and his chairmanship of law firm Mace and Jones, which he took up in September, 2006.
The four-month probe looked at allegations of corruption and a conflict of interest, always denied by Mr Morris and the hospital.
Last month, Mr Morris received a CBE from the Queen for services to the economic regeneration and people of Merseyside.
Last night, a spokesman for the NHS Counter Fraud Service said: “The service has informed the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust that there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against the trust or any individuals. We reserve the right to reinvestigate if further evidence is presented to us in the future as we take all allegations of NHS fraud seriously.”
Last night, Liverpool Women’s Hospital chief executive Kathryn Thomson said she was pleased at the outcome.
She said: “I have always remained confident that the trust’s governance procedures are robust and appropriate.
“It is unfortunate that time and resources have been wasted in having to investigate these claims.”
She hit out at Andrew Bousfield, a media lawyer for the Sun and Mirror newspapers, accusing him of conducting a campaign against the trust.
In January, he revealed the trust had the second-worst bullying rate in the country, from managers or team leaders, in the previous 12 months. This has since been tackled with a number of initiatives.
Mr Bousfield, son of a former consultant at the trust, made a complaint to the NHS Counter Fraud Service after it emerged that the fees paid by the hospital to Mace and Jones had almost quadrupled in two years.
