Policy paper

Annex C: relationships with other bodies

Published 11 February 2026

Applies to England

NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) will work closely with the following organisations to deliver its functions efficiently and effectively, and to support alignment across the whole system.

NHSCFA works in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its other arm’s length bodies (ALBs) to maximise the health and wellbeing gain for the population, and working to the values set out in the NHS Constitution. This is in the interests of:

• patients
• people who use services
• the public

DHSC and its ALBs have complementary but distinct roles within the system to ensure that service users receive high quality services which deliver value for public money.

Where helpful, partnership agreements detailing joint working arrangements will be put in place with NHSCFA’s national partners including NHS England and DHSC, NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and others as may be appropriate.

NHSCFA has responsibility for providing strategic advice and support to specific ALBs to help them to deliver DHSC’s counter fraud strategy and meeting the UK government’s functional standard on fraud. These ALBs are:

• NHS England and DHSC
• NHSBSA
• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)
• NHS Resolution (NHSR)

The ALBs NHSCFA is responsible for may be revised through agreement with department.

NHSCFA is part of the fraud function and works across government to help tackle fraud, with a focus on NHS loss.

Directions to NHS trusts and special health authorities tell NHS organisations to cooperate with NHSCFA in countering fraud and to adhere to NHSCFA’s counter fraud standards for providers and commissioners.

NHS trusts, foundation trusts and special health authorities

Directions to NHS trusts and special health authorities tell NHS organisations to cooperate with NHSCFA in countering fraud and to adhere to NHSCFA’s counter fraud standard for providers and commissioners. NHSCFA will also co-operate with the Secretary of State in enforcing the principles and rules for co-operation and competition which will continue to apply to foundation trusts and NHS trusts.

NHS England and DHSC 

NHSCFA will support NHS England and DHSC to meet the government’s expectations for its functional standards compliance and maturity. This should result in an action plan that cites inter-dependencies and demonstrates collaboration between NHS England and DHSC, NHSBSA and NHSCFA on common areas of work. Also to be included is NHSCFA’s work to or production of an annual report to support NHS England and DHSC’s oversight of commissioners and providers compliance with contracts and national standards and strengthening fraud intelligence.

NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA)

NHSCFA will support NHSBSA to meet DHSC’s expectations for its functional standards compliance and maturity. This should result in an action plan that cites interdependencies and demonstrates collaboration between NHS England and DHSC, NHSBSA and NHSCFA on common areas of work including compliance with contracts and national standards for commissioners and providers and strengthening fraud intelligence.

NHS Resolution (NHSR)

NHSCFA will support NHSR to meet DHSC’s expectations for its functional standards compliance and maturity.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)

NHSCFA will support NHSBT to meet DHSC’s expectations for its functional standards compliance and maturity.

Partner organisations

Arrangement for partnership working will be set out and published in partnership agreements with key partner organisations.

ALBs

NHSCFA will work with other ALBs as and when it is appropriate.