Why did Leanne Underhill claim her mother died?

Leanne Underhill claimed her mother died to take paid compassionate leave from her NHS role and work elsewhere.

How was Leanne Underhill's fraud discovered?

Her fraud was discovered when Birmingham City Council contacted University Hospitals Dorset for a job reference for her new position.

What was the financial impact of Leanne Underhill's fraud?

Underhill dishonestly accrued £2,258 in wages, and the investigation cost the NHS £4,940.

Home / Crime and Justice / NHS Exec Faked Mum's Death for £550/Day Job

NHS Exec Faked Mum's Death for £550/Day Job

17 Feb

Summary

An NHS executive lied about her mother's death to take paid leave.
She secretly worked for Birmingham City Council earning £550 a day.
The fraud was uncovered by a reference request for her new job.

NHS Exec Faked Mum's Death for £550/Day Job

An NHS executive has been ordered to pay compensation after admitting to fraud. Leanne Underhill, 46, who was employed as an interim human resources manager at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD), claimed compassionate leave in May 2024, citing the death of her mother. However, she had concurrently secured a new HR position with Birmingham City Council, located 170 miles away, without informing her employer.

Underhill's deception came to light when Birmingham City Council contacted UHD for a job reference for her new role. An investigation by the NHS's Counter Fraud team followed. During an initial interview in July 2024, Underhill admitted to working elsewhere, attributing it to issues with her line manager. It was only in a subsequent interview in November 2024 that she confessed to fabricating her mother's death, stating she had been suffering from acute mental health problems linked to drink and drug issues.

Appearing at Poole Magistrates' Court, Underhill pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation, which occurred between May and June 2024. The court heard she dishonestly accrued £2,258 in wages, while the investigation cost the NHS £4,940. Representing herself, Underhill expressed deep shame and acknowledged the detriment to her professional career. She was ordered to pay the remaining £6,948 in compensation, with the funds to support patient care.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.

Home / Crime and Justice / NHS Exec Faked Mum's Death for £550/Day Job

NHS Exec Faked Mum's Death for £550/Day Job

17 Feb

•

Summary

An NHS executive lied about her mother's death to take paid leave.
She secretly worked for Birmingham City Council earning £550 a day.
The fraud was uncovered by a reference request for her new job.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.