Health bosses pledge to find fix for way patients’ cash is stored

Tayside health bosses have set up a taskforce to address repeated failings in the way hospital staff handle patients’ money.

The health board has accumulated more than half a million pounds by fulfilling its legal obligation to provide safe custody for money handed in by patients, in the possession of unconscious or confused patients, or found in the possession of patients dying in hospital or dead on arrival.

Managers have set up the group, which will meet for the first time next month, after external auditors revealed problems with the way ward staff collect, record and store patients’ money.

External auditor Sandy Fyfe, Morris & Young, looked at Murray Royal, Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells.

His report said: “From our testing carried out at ward level, we did not receive sufficient documentation to assure us there are no misstatements arising due to fraud or error.”

The report said “conflicting pressures on clinical staff”, as well as Covid-19 restrictions, hampered staff efforts to follow the rules.

Dr Robert Peat, chairman of the audit and risk committee, said: “Last year, we expressed concern about some of the issues that were highlighted.

“Morris and Young again found that the same weaknesses occurred and were highlighted again in this year’s audit.”

Board director of finance Stuart Lyall said: “There was no evidence of any loss or misstatement.

“There is this issue about being able to obtain evidence and with the Covid19 situation the external auditor was not able to source additional evidence.

“However, there are one or two issues that we need to address.”

Dr Robert Peat, chairman of the audit and risk committee, is concerned about how patients’ money is handled.