Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption statement

The Online NHS Trust is committed to applying the highest standards of ethical conduct and ensuring that public funds are used properly and solely for the benefit of patients and the public.

Fraud, bribery and corruption committed by a minority are unacceptable and divert resources away from where care is required. The Trust is committed to reducing fraud, bribery and corruption to an absolute minimum and has robust systems and controls in place to prevent, detect and respond to these risks.

Fraud is an act of deception that is intended to make a gain or to cause a loss to another party, defined in accordance with theFraud Act 2006.

The Bribery Act came into force on 1 July 2011. The purpose of the Act is to prevent bribery and corruption in both the public and private sectors. Bribery and corruption under the act are punishable for individuals as a criminal offence by up to 10 years imprisonment and the Trust could face an unlimited fine. We therefore take these legal responsibilities very seriously and are committed to implementing and enforcing effective systems to prevent, monitor and eliminate bribery, in accordance with theBribery Act 2010.

The Trust also recognises theEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which came into force on 1 September 2025 and has created the corporate offence of failure to prevent fraud. This offence applies to all employees, contractors, and associated persons. The Trust ensures that robust procedures are in place to prevent, detect, and investigate all forms of fraud and financial crime.

It is essential that everyone working for, or on behalf of, the Trust acts honestly and with integrity and complies with Trust policies and procedures. We confirm our commitment to ensuring that all staff are aware of their responsibilities in relation to the prevention of fraud, bribery and corruption and that the risk of Trust exposure to any of these acts is mitigated. The Trust asks all who are involved in Trust work with a reasonably held suspicion of fraud, bribery or corruption to report concerns immediately.