A NORTH-EAST hospital was targeted by fraudsters who falsely claimed for shifts they did not work, costing the NHS more than £70,000.

Medical recruitment agent Charles Elad persuaded four health care assistants and a nurse to defraud four hospitals – including Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Scunthorpe General, Royal Blackburn, and Shrewsbury were also targeted.

Elad was sentenced to three years in prison during a hearing at Hull Crown Court last week.

Each of the five workers was convicted of separate fraud conspiracies with Elad. His wife Tanyi Elad was also convicted of a money laundering offence.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust could not provide any detail of how the hospital was targeted, but said: "The trust takes its responsibility for tackling NHS fraud, bribery and corruption extremely seriously.

"We have robust policies in place and work closely with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority.”