GP practice manager who embezzled £155,000 ordered to pay back £41,000

As reported by Sky News, a former GP practice manager – whose embezzlement forced a surgery to close – has been ordered to pay back more than £41,000

Jacqueline Rodger, 56, was jailed last year for stealing £155,012 from Greenhills Medical Practice in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

In her role at the health centre, Rodger was able to move money into her own account disguised as payments to locum doctors and office supply firms.

GPs eventually became suspicious after discovering payments to locum doctors when none were on duty.

The matter was reported to police following the discovery of further financial inconsistencies.

As a result of the embezzlement, Greenhills Medical Practice was forced to cancel its NHS contract and subsequently closed.

Rodger, who had worked at the centre since 2008, admitted embezzling the money between April 2014 and February 2018.

She was jailed for 18 months in October 2022 and at Hamilton Sheriff Court has now been ordered to pay £41,157 compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Deputy Crown Agent Kenny Donnelly, specialist casework, said: “This woman’s crimes caused significant disruption to a community’s GP services.

“This compensation order should serve as a warning to anyone involved in financial crime of any kind that we will not stop at prosecution.

“Even after a conviction is secured, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will continue to use proceeds of crime legislation to ensure that funds obtained through embezzlement are confiscated and compensation awarded where appropriate to the victims of such crimes.”