Man defrauds NHS of £1m after faking qualifications

A Totnes man faked qualifications to defraud his way into roles at a hospice and two South West health trusts, where he earned £643,602.91.

Jon Andrewes, 63, a builder, called himself "doctor" and faked PhDs and other qualifications in order to become the chair of two NHS trusts and a hospice. 

He has been ordered to pay £96,000 after Supreme Court hearing, after he was jailed for two years in 2017, where a court heard that he "led an “outwardly prestigious life based on a staggering series of lies”.

In an article in the Independent, Lauren Beavis writes that Andrewes falsified his way into roles at a hospice and two South West health trusts, where he earned £643,602.91.

His only real qualifications were a higher education certificate in social work and a PGCE in teaching. 

He also lied about having three university degrees but in reality his employment history included being a probation officer, customers officer or youth worker. 

In 2017, Andrewes admitted two charges of dishonestly making a false representation in relation to gain as chairman of Torbay NHS Care Trust in 2007 and Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust in 2015.

He also pleaded guilty to making a financial gain in relation to his role as chief executive of St Margaret’s Hospice in Taunton, Somerset, in 2004.

Following his conviction, Andrewes was forced to hand over £96,737.24, which was agreed to be the “recoverable amount” of money he had available, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court said.

The confiscation hearing also determined what assets Andrewes holds and what can be disposed of in order to reimburse the public purse.

These include his three-bedroom detached home in Stoke Gabriel, worth an estimated £423,000.

The court heard he had made “significant progress” at the hospice but had “not actively done any damage” during his time in the roles.

The Department of Health confirmed they examined how he came to be appointed to posts such as chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust.

They said: “Mr Andrewes held a significant position of responsibility and trust, and this sentence sends a clear message that fraud of any kind will not be tolerated in the NHS.”