NHS executive Leanne Underhill faked her mother’s death in paid leave fraud scheme
An NHS manager lied about his mother’s death so he could take paid leave and earn £550 a day by moonlighting elsewhere, a court heard.
Leanne Underhill was working as a temporary HR manager at Dorset University Hospitals, where she earned £80,000 a year.
However, he received excused leave by saying that his mother had passed away in May 2024.
He had actually taken up another HR role at Birmingham City Council.
The NHS trust became suspicious when it was contacted by external recruitment firm Morgan Law at the end of May.
The firm sought references from the foundation for new work Underhill had started 170 miles away in Birmingham.
The NHS’s Anti-Fraud team launched an investigation and interviewed Underhill in July.
The 46-year-old woman admitted that she started working elsewhere, but claimed that she had problems with the department manager and therefore could not return to her job at the foundation.
However, when asked about her mother and the bereavement leave she received, the volunteer ended the interview.
It wasn’t until the second interview in November 2024 that he admitted to faking his mother’s death.
He said he suffered from acute mental health problems resulting from drink and drug problems.
Underhill, of Somerset Street, wept in the dock at Poole Magistrates’ Court in Dorset as he was convicted of three counts of fraud by false representation between May and June 2024.
Prosecutor Robert Salame said: “From April 2024 the defendant moved to a six-month fixed-term contract as HR manager at Dorset University Hospitals.
“He told them that his mother had passed away on May 1st and that he had arranged her funeral for May 23rd.
“He gave his notice on May 8 but started working for Birmingham City Council on a wage of £550 a day.
“The defendant was identified through a reference request made after he took up his new full-time role at the council.
“His contract was subsequently terminated by the municipality and he was interviewed in July 2024.
“The defendant admitted that he was working elsewhere because he felt he could not return to his (NHS) role due to problems with his line manager.
“In his second interview in November 2024, he admitted that his mother had not passed away and blamed drink and drugs.
“While the value of the fraud was not excessive, given the defendant’s position as a senior HR manager, this was a clear breach of trust.”
The court heard the woman was unfairly awarded £2,258 in wages and the investigation cost the NHS £4,940.
Underhill, who represented himself, said he was in so much debt after losing his job that he could not pay both his bills and the money he had previously owed.
The mother-of-two told the court she was “deeply ashamed” of her actions.
He broke down as he told the court: “I learned a very hard lesson.
“It damaged my professional career”
Underhill had previously repaid £250, so the judge ordered him to pay the remaining £6,948 outstanding.
Addressing Underhill, Deputy Coroner Roderick Hine said: “You got yourself into a bit of a mess and made the situation worse by not accepting the repayment option.
“I will order you to pay compensation.”
UHD chief financial officer Pete Papwoth later said: “The NHS is under huge financial pressure and our Trust is working closely with our anti-fraud expert TIAA to investigate suspected fraud.
“We are pleased that this case of false representation has been resolved with the money refunded to us as this will go towards supporting patient care.
“We are grateful to TIAA for their support in this complex case.”
