Probity Services deliver a range of technical verification and assurance activities to the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) in relation to Family Practitioner Service (FPS) expenditure each year.

The role of the Probity team is to gain an assurance that the claims for payment being submitted by Family Practitioner contractors are proper and in accordance with the relevant Statement of Fees and Entitlements/Allowances.

The team also administer the Northern Ireland component of the national Healthy Start Scheme, verifying and processing the invoices for the NI share of the Scheme. Under the Day Care Foods component Probity Services also provide reimbursement of claims from registered nurseries and child-minders for the supply of milk to children under five years of age.

Probity Services also carry out a range of checks where patients have claimed to be exempt from paying the relevant statutory health service dental or ophthalmic charge. Where patients have wrongfully claimed help with health costs the sums are required to be repaid and, where applicable, Fixed Penalty and Surcharges are applied.

Please click on the relevant link below for further information on probity visits.

              

Most treatments and services provided under the health service in Northern Ireland are free at the point of delivery,  however charges can be applied for dental treatment and ophthalmic services. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for help with these health costs. To find out if you qualify for help with health costs please click below.

If you are unsure if you qualify for help with health costs please contact the advice line.

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks. For further information please visit the Healthy Start website.

If you’re eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme you can also get important vitamins for free. These come as NHS Healthy Start tablets for adults and drops for children. For further information, including how to request your vitamins, please visit the ‘Getting vitamins’ area of the Healthy Start website.

The Day Care Foods Scheme allows children under five years of age to receive free milk at approved day care facilities. Please click here for further information on the Day Care Foods Scheme.