Telecoms provider Oricom working with NHS fraud officers in ongoing probe

Scottish telecoms provider Oricom has said it is working with NHS fraud officers in an ongoing investigation into its NHS contracts in Scotland.

The statement follows reports in the Daily Mirror and Daily Record that its offices had been raided in relation to phone maintenance deals between Oricom and communications chiefs at NHS Lothian and NHS Lanarkshire.

The contracts may have breached rules on financial wrongdoing in the tendering process, reported the Daily Record.

Oricom currently has £7m tied up in contracts with Scottish health boards, it was reported.

Responding to the press articles, Oricom said:

We want to confirm that we are assisting the NHS with their [sic] internal investigations and we will happily continue to do so until the matter is resolved. We would also like to highlight that this is an NHS enquiry, and not a police matter.

Oricom remained fully operational during recent events and we are writing to our valued customers and suppliers to ensure [sic] you that Oricom will continue to offer the high standards and services that you are used to.

We are proud to have built a strong and sustainable Scottish SME capable of competing at the top level. And we are proud of each and every one of our staff who continue to deliver expert services to our valued customers.

NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services and the Crown Office told The Mirror they could not comment on an ongoing investigation. ®