A DOCTOR’S surgery manager accused of defrauding the NHS out of thousands of pounds is to stand trial next year.

Hazel Donaldson is alleged to have dishonestly abused her position at the Manor Practice in Southwick by misrepresenting the terms of her employment to cause the practice a financial loss of £30,621.

The 58-year-old, of Rose Walk, Goring, appeared in court last month to deny fraud by abuse of position.

Appearing in front of Judge Anthony Niblett at Hove Crown Court yesterday, she was told she would stand trial in April.

Donaldson had worked at the Southwick surgery for some 30 years.

The Care Quality Commission discovered what it described as a “breach of legal requirements” when it carried out a routine inspection of the practice in January 2015.

CQC chief inspector Professor Steve Field said the surgery should “ensure that records of identification checks are included in staff personnel files”.

He added it should also “ensure that risk assessments are in place to assess the need for criminal record checks for non-clinical staff”.

The circumstances improved after another inspection in January last year.

In 2015, Donaldson started working at the Seldon Medical Centre in Worthing as the practice manager.