Full Breakdown
Fraudulent Shift Scheme at Frimley Health NHS Trust
6/8/2026, 11:45:14 AM
Background & Context
The NHS relies on digital rostering to allocate staff and apply higher pay rates for unsocial hours. During the COVID-19 pandemic, trusts faced acute staffing shortages and tightened budgets, making accurate roster data essential for patient safety and financial stewardship.
Timeline
Nov 1 2020 – First phantom shift recorded.
Feb 1 2023 (or Apr 2023) – Last shift recorded (source discrepancy).
Early 2023 – Trust dismissed Chareka after internal investigation.
2024 – Guilty plea and criminal sentencing.
2024 – NMC hearing, interim suspension and striking-off order.
28-day appeal period follows.
Data & Statistics
Fifty phantom shifts were logged, yielding £19,575.41 in unearned wages and 540 hours of TOIL. The fraudulent entries were predominantly night, bank-holiday or weekend shifts, which attract enhanced pay rates.
Official Statements & Responses
The NMC panel warned that Chareka’s conduct could have directly impacted human resources and the trust’s finances, and concluded that striking-off was the only sanction capable of preserving public confidence in the profession. The Trust dismissed her in early 2023 and referred the case to the NHS Counter-Fraud Authority, which has begun asset-recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Criticism & Opposition
Alexandra Monaghan, representing Chareka, argued that the criminal sentence already constituted sufficient punishment and that any further professional sanction should be proportionate, emphasizing Chareka’s genuine remorse, insight and repeated heartfelt apologies.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the final fraudulent shift date, citing either 1 Feb 2023 or April 2023. No information is provided on how other staff covered the unrecorded shifts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “committed against a publicly funded NHS body already under financial pressure” — Rosie Welsh, NMC case presenter
- “The panel concluded that your conduct could have had a direct impact on human resources and the financial position of the trust.” — NMC fitness-to-practice panel
- “only sanction capable of maintaining public confidence in the profession” — Rosie Welsh, NMC case presenter
- “? Alexandra Monaghan, representing Chareka, said she'd “demonstrated genuine remorse and insight” into the seriousness of her conduct.” — Alexandra Monaghan, representing Faith Chareka
- “expressed repeated heartfelt apologies” — Alexandra Monaghan, representing Faith Chareka
What’s Next
The striking-off order will become final after the 28-day appeal window unless successfully challenged. Asset-recovery actions are underway, and the Trust plans to review roster-management controls, including biometric verification and secondary managerial sign-offs, to prevent future abuse.
