An NHS UK executive earning £80,000 a year has been ordered to repay thousands of pounds after admitting she lied about her mother’s death to secure paid leave while secretly working a second senior role 170 miles away.
The case, heard at Poole Magistrates’ Court in Dorset, has raised fresh questions about trust, governance and financial accountability within public services already under intense strain.
Leanne Underhill, 46, had been employed as an interim human resources manager at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. In May 2024 she took compassionate leave, telling colleagues her mother had died and that a funeral had been arranged.
But prosecutors told the court she had in fact secured a separate HR position at Birmingham City Council, earning £550 a day while still contracted to the NHS trust.
How the deception was uncovered
The arrangement unravelled when external recruitment firm Morgan Law contacted the Dorset trust requesting a reference for Underhill’s new position in Birmingham. Senior managers had not been informed she had started another full-time role.
The trust’s Counter Fraud team launched an investigation. During a voluntary interview in July 2024, Underhill admitted taking up alternative employment but claimed difficulties with her line manager prevented her from returning to her NHS role. When questioned about the bereavement leave, she ended the interview.
It was not until a second interview in November 2024 that she admitted her mother had not died.
The court heard she had dishonestly obtained £2,258 in wages. The internal fraud investigation cost the NHS a further £4,940.
Underhill, of Street in Somerset, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation between May and June 2024. She was ordered to repay £6,948, having previously paid back £250.
Deputy Judge Roderick Hine told her she had “compounded” her difficulties by failing to resolve the matter earlier.
Financial pressures on the NHS
The case comes at a time when NHS finances remain under exceptional pressure. Every pound lost to fraud is funding diverted from patient care, frontline staffing and service delivery.
Following sentencing, UHD’s chief finance officer said the recovery of funds would go towards supporting patient care and thanked counter fraud specialists for their work in resolving what was described as a complex case.
For UK workers, particularly those employed in public services, the story is a reminder that trust is fundamental. Compassionate leave policies exist to support employees through genuine hardship. Abuse of those provisions risks undermining confidence in flexible working arrangements that many rely upon.
Mental health claims and accountability
In court, Underhill said she had been suffering acute mental health problems linked to drink and drug issues. She told magistrates she was deeply ashamed and acknowledged the damage to her professional reputation.
The prosecution accepted that the financial value of the fraud was not excessive. However, it emphasised that given her senior HR position, the breach of trust was serious.
For HR professionals across the UK, this case highlights the ethical standards expected of those responsible for overseeing workplace policies, employment rights and organisational governance.
Protecting public funds and workplace integrity
Across the NHS and wider public sector, counter fraud measures are increasingly scrutinised. With services stretched and public finances under pressure, transparency and accountability remain central to maintaining public confidence.
For UK NHS workers, the wider message is clear. Integrity in employment matters not only safeguards individual careers but protects the sustainability of services that millions depend on daily.
The Workers Union continues to advocate for fairness, clarity and responsible conduct in workplaces across Britain, ensuring that policies designed to support working people are applied properly and protected from misuse.
