Family takes case against NHS and council to police and ombudsman

SERIOUS claims of wrongdoing have been made against Devon's health service by a family that believes the NHS is trying to ditch the costs of their disabled son’s care.

- by BRADLEY GERRARD

Mark Kent with step-son Thomas and wife Leila

(Bradley Gerrard/LDRS)

Mark Kent, whose stepson Thomas has a round-the-clock care plan that is estimated to cost £200,000 per year, has been fighting for the past six years to prevent the county's health service from downgrading the 33-year-old’s support.

Mr Kent claims a formal document, known as a decision support tool, was unilaterally changed by NHS staff after a meeting to discuss Thomas’ care, and that since then the health service has illegitimately claimed those alterations were endorsed by Devon County Council even though the authority has written to him to dispute that.

The alleged fraud by false representation has been reported by Mr Kent to Devon & Cornwall Police.

“We have provided the police’s economic crime branch with what we believe is clear and unequivocal evidence indicating fraud by false representation and it is now investigating” he said.

The police have confirmed it has an occurrence number logged in relation to the claim.

The assertion from Mr Kent is that the NHS is trying to avoid paying the millions of pounds in care that Thomas will require throughout his life, a strategy he believes is prevalent across the country.