Board issues warning over medicines fraud
THE Northern Health and Social Services Board has warned members of the public to be wary of bogus telephone callers following several incidents where attempts have been made to obtain medicines fraudulently.
In one recent incident a patient was phoned by someone claiming to be calling from the doctor’s surgery. The patient was asked to give some personal details because information had been deleted from the practice computer. This information was then used in an attempt to order a prescription in the patient’s name.
Dr Sloan Harper, Director of Primary Care with the Northern Board, said that he was very concerned that patients’ details could be obtained and used in this way.
“Do not give personal information such as your name, address and date of birth to telephone callers unless you are sure of their identity.
“If in any doubt, take the caller’s name and use the number that you would normally use to contact the surgery to call them back.
“Remember that genuine callers from places such as your doctor’s surgery should already have this type of information and will not take offence if you want to check their authenticity,” he advised.
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Weather for Newtownabbey
Monday 20 May 2013
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