Accountant convicted of defrauding Westfield Health

An accountant has been convicted of defrauding cash plan provider Westfield Health.

The insurer has welcomed the conviction saying policyholders can be reassured that it was clamping down on fraudulent activity to protect them and any premiums they pay.

Andrew Gwyn Thomas from Trewern near Welshpool, was given a 28-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and told to pay £8,188 in compensation to Westfield Health.

The judge at Mold Crown Court also ordered him to pay £340 in costs and carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Thomas, aged 30, admitted falsifying GP referral forms and making a series of false claims to the tune of £8,000.

He had contributed to a Westfield Health plan since 2001, but the offences came to light when the provider investigated his claiming patterns, after it was found that Thomas' doctor had not been referring him for the treatment being claimed and that the invoices were false.

The sum of £8,188 has now been repaid in full to Westfield Health.

Julie Gill, executive director - operations at Westfield Health, explains: "We have many ways in which we can verify claims and under the Data Protection Act 1998, we will share details with other health insurance providers for the detection and prevention of fraudulent activity.

"We have worked closely with the local police in this case and appreciate all their efforts to help bring about a successful prosecution," she adds.