NHS Charities’ Independence Under Threat

 Bay MP Adrian Sanders has joined fellow Liberal Democrat MPs in calling for the Government to reverse its decision to merge the funds of health charities with local NHS bodies.  The Association of NHS Charities and the Charity Commission have both raised concerns that such a move would remove the independence of these charities and substantially dissuade people from donating.

There are fears that the changes will also let Government disguise health service cuts and also appropriate charitable funds for other uses.

Across the UK health charities hold around £2billion of assets.  Those with the largest revenues include Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.  Locally organisations such as the South Devon Healthcare Trust Charitable Fund would be affected.

Adrian said: “NHS charities benefit from £300million of public donations every year and they provide many fantastic resources, from specialist equipment to toys for gravely ill children.  It is therefore wholly irresponsible of the Government to endanger this.”