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Draconian new powers will come into force next year requiring anyone
working for or with the NHS to hand over any NHS-related information
instantly on the request of a fraud investigator.
Section 46 of the new Health Act, just passed by Parliament, allows NHS
Counter Fraud officials to serve “disclosure notices” on NHS staff in
England and Wales, demanding the handing over of any document.
Under the Act, a person can be served with an s46 notice if the
inspector has “reasonable grounds” for suspecting he/she is “accountable
for” documents relevant to a fraud investigation — ie, if he/she has
“either day-to-day or overall responsibility for their custody or
control”.
Full story in bjhc&im September 2006 (534 words)
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