Four out of seven health boards in Wales once again failed to meet their financial duty to break-even over a three-year period, according to their 2018-19 accounts.  

The picture of counter-fraud arrangements in the Welsh public sector varies across Wales, but there is scope for greater collaboration and cross-agency working to combat fraud.

The losses caused by fraud in the public sector are significant and, in a time of austerity, every pound lost to fraud is a pound that could be spent on public services. Estimates of these losses range from £100 million to £1 billion per year, which gives an indication of the potential risks of fraud facing the public sector in Wales.