A recent BBC Wales report has highlighted a serious and growing threat within NHS workforce systems: individuals using fraudulent identities to secure agency shifts in clinical settings. In the case reported, Oluwabunmu Adeleiyi, a 30‑year‑old with no formal medical qualifications, worked as a healthcare support worker across multiple NHS sites using a false ID.
Adeleiyi operated in both Neath Port Talbot Hospital and the Caswell Clinic in Bridgend, securing shifts through different employment agencies using the same falsified credentials. The fraudulent activity enabled her and two accomplices to bill the NHS around £16,000 per month, exposing both financial vulnerabilities and significant risks to patient safety.
The scam came to light only after a receptionist noticed that the photograph on her ID badge appeared to be stuck onto the card. When challenged, she refused to provide shift documentation, triggering escalation to senior management and the declaration of a critical incident. Investigators later found troubling behaviours during her shifts, including locking herself in rooms, accessing confidential patient notes, and making entries in clinical records despite having no clinical training. Health board leaders noted that the potential consequences “could have been catastrophic.”
The case illustrates how gaps in agency verification processes, inconsistencies between recruitment systems, and pressure on staffing pools create opportunities for organised crime groups to infiltrate NHS settings. While no patient was ultimately harmed, the incident demonstrates how easily risk can enter clinical environments when reliance is placed on inadequate onboarding or documentation checks.
BBC – Bogus Cardiff healthcare worker used fake ID to scam NHS – BBC News
How TIAA Helps NHS Organisations Prevent Fraud
TIAA’s Anti‑Crime Specialists support NHS organisations in closing these exact vulnerabilities. Through comprehensive fraud risk assessments and targeted control reviews, TIAA identifies weaknesses in recruitment, identity‑verification, agency onboarding, and access control procedures when agency staff arrive for a shift—precisely the areas exploited in the Adeleiyi case.
If suspicious behaviour or documentation concerns arise, TIAA provides rapid, expert investigations led by accredited fraud specialists. These teams establish the facts quickly, support escalation, and assist with regulatory, disciplinary, or criminal proceedings—mirroring the swift action required in cases like the one highlighted by the BBC.
A TIAA review into the controls around agency staff checks during ward site visits led to the identification of an imposter worker whilst they were working an agency shift at a NHS Trust who was subsequently arrested and dismissed.
To help the NHS stay ahead of emerging threats, TIAA also delivers fraud‑prevention training and real‑time FraudSmart alerts, keeping clients informed of new patterns of identity fraud, agency‑related scams, and organised crime activity targeting the health sector.