NHS Executive Fined for Lying About Mother's Death to Take Paid Leave and Moonlight
A senior NHS human resources executive has been convicted and fined after she lied about the death of her mother to fraudulently obtain paid compassionate leave, while simultaneously earning £550 per day moonlighting for another public authority. The case, heard at Poole Magistrates' Court in Dorset, exposed a serious breach of trust within the healthcare system.
Fraudulent Compassionate Leave and Dual Employment
Leanne Underhill, 46, worked as an interim HR manager at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) on an annual salary of £80,000. In May 2024, she requested and was granted compassionate leave, informing her employers that her mother had passed away on May 1 and that she had arranged the funeral for May 23. However, during this period, she had secretly secured another HR position at Birmingham City Council, located approximately 170 miles away, and began working there.
The deception came to light when the NHS trust was contacted at the end of May by the external recruitment firm Morgan Law, which requested a reference for Underhill's new role in Birmingham. The trust had not been notified of her employment elsewhere, prompting immediate suspicion. The NHS Counter Fraud team launched an investigation and interviewed Underhill in July 2024.
Investigation and Admissions of Guilt
During the initial interview, Underhill admitted she had started another job but claimed she could not return to her NHS role due to issues with her line manager. She abruptly ended the voluntary interview when questioned about her mother and the bereavement leave. It was not until a second interview in November 2024 that she confessed to lying about her mother's death, attributing her actions to acute mental health problems stemming from drink and drug issues.
Prosecutor Robert Salame detailed the timeline in court: "Beginning in April 2024, the defendant moved on to a fixed-term contract of six months as an HR manager at University Hospitals Dorset. She told them her mother passed away on May 1 and she had arranged her funeral for May 23. She handed in her notice on the 8th of May but she started working at Birmingham City Council on a daily rate of £550."
Court Sentencing and Financial Impact
Underhill, a mother of two from Street, Somerset, sobbed in the dock as she was sentenced for three counts of fraud by false representation between May and June 2024. She pleaded guilty and was handed a compensation order. The court heard that she had dishonestly accrued £2,258 in wages from the NHS while on leave, and the investigation cost the trust an additional £4,940, bringing the total financial impact to £7,198.
Representing herself, Underhill expressed deep shame for her actions, stating: "I am deeply ashamed and I have learnt a very hard lesson. It has been to the detriment of my professional career." She explained that she was in significant debt after losing her job and could not afford to pay her bills and the owed money. Having previously repaid £250, she was ordered by Deputy Judge Roderick Hine to pay the remaining £6,948.
Breach of Trust and NHS Response
Judge Hine remarked: "You have got yourself in a bit of a mess and compounded it by not taking the option to pay it back. I am going to order you to pay compensation." The prosecutor emphasized the severity of the breach, noting: "While the value of the fraud is not excessive, with the position the defendant was in as a senior HR executive, it is a clear breach of trust."
Pete Papwoth, chief finance officer at UHD, commented after the case: "The NHS is under huge financial pressure, and our Trust works closely with TIAA, our counter fraud specialist, to investigate any suspected fraud. We are pleased that this case of false representation has been resolved with money being paid back to us, as this will go towards supporting patient care. We are grateful to TIAA for their support in this complex case."
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in public sector fraud prevention and the ethical responsibilities of senior officials. Underhill's contract with Birmingham City Council was terminated upon discovery of the fraud, further underscoring the professional repercussions of her actions.
