£71,000 in fines for free NHS treatment claims were wrongly issued

HUNDREDS of Oldhamers have been falsely given a fine for accessing free NHS treatment during the roll out of Universal Credit, the Chronicle can reveal today.
A Freedom of Information Request, submitted by the Chronicle to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), found that since Universal Credit was launched in Oldham in 2013, 632 people were wrongly sent a penalty charge notice.
The notice stated that the patient had falsely claimed free NHS dental treatment and were required to pay the cost of their treatment as well as a penalty charge ­- set at five times the amount owed, up to a... read more