A LEADING specialist on NHS fraud has joined North- East law firm Ward Hadaway.

Mark Heath, 38, joins the Newcastle firm’s healthcare team as a partner, after 16 years at Watson Burton.

Mr Heath has acted for primary care trusts, hospital trusts and local health boards across England and Wales, tackling the whole spectrum of fraud against the NHS.

He has also devised antifraud initiatives for the NHS, which have recovered substantial assets, as well as having a deterrent effect.

Mr Heath, a director and founder member of the North- East Fraud Forum, said: “I hope that my specialist expertise will add an extra dimension to Ward Hadaway’s offering to its healthcare clients, particularly in the current climate where resources are at a premium in the public sector.”

Jeffrey Keeble, partner and head of healthcare at Ward Hadaway, said: “With NHS organisations having to find up to £20bn in efficiency savings by 2014, the focus is firmly on keeping track of every penny spent, so cutting down on any sources of fraud is vital.”

Ward Hadaway’s healthcare team provides a legal services to more than 60 NHS organisations across the country.