September 2015 Issue 74
www.independent-practitioner-today.co.uk
INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONER TODAY
The business journal for doctors in private practice
In this issue
What patients really want Consumerism in healthcare is on the rise. But do we know what patients want? P16
New inspection rules
The CQC has published draft rules for private practices. Have your say before 19 October P22
£12.50
Record issue size!
Packed with news, views, tips and articles to support you in your private practice
Top-class private nursing
An experienced matron outlines the top ten qualities to look for in a private nurse P34
Fraudsters’ target is YOU By Robin Stride Private consultants and GPs are being put on red alert over rising threats to their practice finances from fraudsters. Independent practitioners and their staff are seen as potential easy targets from criminals responsible for conning the cash from over 40% of businesses in the UK last year alone. Doctors face attacks from an arsenal of sophisticated stings including: n Phone scams; n Malicious software; n Phishing; n Mandate fraud; n Cheque cheats. Now Lloyds Bank has joined with Independent Practitioner Today in this issue to help readers beat the maze of trickery being used by criminal gangs to try and steal their money.
Head of healthcare banking ser vices, Ian Crompton, warned: ‘An independent practitioner, or any healthcare professional, is likely to be a target. They are high earners and there is probably a perception they move money around and have large amounts, and that’s what fraudsters target.
‘I would advise any independent practitioner to advise their staff to be extra careful because there is such a lot of this fraud going on at this present time. ‘The fraudsters don’t care about the business – all they care about is an opening. We are keen to get this message across to independent practitioners and the staff working for them. ‘Anyone could be a target and they could lose many thousands of pounds – it can be tens of thou sands. People think it won’t hap pen to them, and it does.’ Lloyds Bank said a spate of large cases recently affected veterinary surgeons. But once target groups knew they were being attacked, they increased their defences, so criminals moved to other busi nesses where they thought there was money. The trusting nature of the medi cal profession also makes many
doctors and staff vulnerable to attack. Mr Crompton warned: ‘These guys will try and defraud whom ever they think they can. Every body should be on their guard, especially if they have credit bal ances. ‘What fraudsters try and do is to get someone to release their codes and even while you are speaking to them, they are taking money out of your account. They are very clever in what they do and it is effective. It’s a bit like opening your wallet to them; they are so credible that people get drawn into it.’ Lloyds Bank is also warning of a recent escalation in employee fraud, most commonly when cor rupt staff present cheques drawn on a business account for personal gain. This is usually done by forg ing signatures. n See page 32
Calling all new independent practitioners Don’t miss our seven-page ‘Starting a private practice’ section featuring three articles from experts to help you in the early days and beyond n See pages 24-31 In association with