THE manager of a doctor’s surgery has been accused of defrauding the NHS out of more than £30,000.

Hazel Donaldson, 58, appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of fraud.

Kirsten Sharpe, prosecuting, said Donaldson is accused of “a breach of trust that occurred over a period of years causing a loss in excess of £30,000”.

The court was told 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 fraud is alleged to have taken place between May 2012 and November 2014.

Donaldson, of Rose Walk, Goring, pleaded not guilty to the charge of fraud by abuse of position.

Worthing District Judge Christopher James ruled that the allegation was too serious to be dealt with in the magistrates’ court and told Donaldson her case would be heard at Lewes Crown Court on September 4

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

The large practice serves patients from Lancing, Shoreham, Shoreham Beach, Southwick, and Fishersgate, through to west Portslade.

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

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

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

A follow-up inspection took place in January 2016 and the surgery was found to have “clearly defined and embedded systems, processes and practices in place to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse”.

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