NURSES are facing a fraud probe over claims they earned thousands of pounds in bogus overtime claims.

Payments were allegedly made to the three NHS Lanarkshire nurses for shifts they had not actually worked out of a fund intended to reduce waiting times.

All three have been suspended pending investigation.

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The Scottish Government’s Waiting List Initiative provides extra cash to health boards to help them employ more staff.

Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Monica Lennon MSP said: “This is money earmarked for cutting waiting times so that the public can get the care they need as soon as possible.

“If such a problem could exist in NHS Lanarkshire then it is clear it may also be occurring elsewhere in our NHS.”

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John White, director of Human Resources at NHS Lanarkshire said they would not comment on matters relating to individual employees.

The Scottish Government said: “Direct employment issues are a matter for the health board. We have been clear that all funding should be monitored and used appropriately.”

The three nurses were employed at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie and Wishaw General in Lanarkshire.

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Some nurses can earn up to £300 at a time for performing extra work.