News

Charitable funds – Pembrokeshire NHS – where does your donation go?

Published

10 years ago

July 22, 2014

Tom Sinclair

A SPECIAL REPORT
by Lyn Neville

Many people give donations to the local hospital for different reasons. My concern is for Cancer Services at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest and what is done with this money. I have suffered personal grief when members of my family have passed away on Ward 10. The first feeling is sorrow but you also feel the need to help the people who helped you and your loved one. The staff on Ward 10 and in the Chemotherapy Day Unit (CDU) have been caring, helpful, compassionate and professional. Many people make donations in lieu of flowers and in legacies to Ward 10 and the CDU. But, when you make a donation now the Ward 10 and CDU funds have disappeared and become part of Pembrokeshire Cancer Services. So can you give your money specifically (only) to Ward 10 or CDU? It certainly seems not. The Hywel Dda General Fund Charity (the Charity) was established on 29 March 2012 and is registered with the Charity Commission (1147863). The Charity has a single corporate trustee – Hywel Dda [University] Local Health Board. (The name has recently changed again to Hywel Dda Health Charities). The object of the Charity is that: “… The Trustees shall hold the trust fund upon trust to apply the income, and at their direction so far as permissible, the capital, for any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the National Health Service…” The Charity’s Strategic Direction (recently agreed at a Public Board meeting) sets out what the Charity aims to support from the donations received: “The Hywel Dda Charity’s objective is to support any NHS charitable purpose. This is primarily within the Hywel Dda area. The Trustees ensure that this purpose is carried out for the public benefit by working to the following aim: To raise more than £2 million per year to help keep Hywel Dda’s Services at the highest standards”. So, it seems the Hywel Dda Health Board NEEDS the generous support of the public to keep Hywel Dda’s Services at the highest standards. If you also take into account that on the 22nd May, 2014 the Audit Committee Report to the Board informed the Health Board that, “The Audit Committee was informed that Hywel Dda University Health Board’s year-end financial position of £19.225m deficit reflects the on-going requirement for major service redesign in order to deliver the statutory breakeven duty. (The major service redesign is another story!!) At that Health Board meeting on the 29th March, 2012 the Board said – “Board Members will be well aware of the local sensitivities to restructuring of charitable Funds. These funds having in the main been raised over many years by voluntary donations and legacies to local services. Board members can be assured that the restructuring has been focussed on improving the Health Board’s ability to spend the monies on these very local services. “By retaining 110 local designations and significant restricted funds we are bound to apply the monies for the purposes intended. The Charity Commission has repeatedly stated that monies are to be applied for the charitable purposes not hoarded. This proposal is aimed at achieving this end. The creation of local a Charitable Funds Subcommittee in each county has further strengthened this local accountability.” So: the Charity Commission says the money mustn’t be “Hoarded” it must be spent. BBC Wales reported recently that £550,000 had been “Ring-fenced” for the CDU and Ward 10 at Withybush Hospital. This is made up of £250,000 for Ward 10 and £300,000 for CDU and was decided at a Hywel Dda Charitable Funds Committee Meeting in September 2013. But the term “Ring-fence” doesn’t really mean anything. On the 1st December, 2011 the Charitable Funds Committee ringfenced £200,000 for Ward 10. On the 3rd April 2012 – Chris Martin (Chair) in a letter to Angela Burns A.M. informed her that £290.000 had been ring-fenced for Ward 10. So between April 2012 and September 2013 the ring-fenced amount for Ward 10 went DOWN by £40,000! So why did that happen? The Charitable Funds Committee agreed to ring-fence the funds which means they can also agree Not to ring fence the funds and use them for something else. The money needs to be “Restricted” which in the eyes of the Charity Commissions means that is all it can be used for!! But the Health Board say it is too difficult to do this (and would be very inconvenient). At a meeting with Chris Martin (former Chair of Hywel Dda) on the 12th March, 2014 he said I could “trust him that the money was ring-fenced and that is all it would be used for”. Well he’s gone. Let’s see what his successor says. In the Pembrokeshire Charitable Funds Committee Meeting on Thursday 24th January, 2013 it was minuted that, “discussions took place regarding the Cancer Services Fund as the balances do not look like Ward 10 funds are being ring-fenced. “Redacted” therefore agreed to discuss with “Redacted” to provide reassurance.” At the Charitable Funds Committee 4th March 2014 – (minutes 12th Dec, 2013). Finance CF(14)05 Directors Report – Mr Forster began by advising that this contained both good and bad news. The bad news was that donations were down by 30% comparing year on year figures. Donations are down because no one knows where the money goes or what it is being spent on. In a recent Charitable Funds Committee meeting, a Board Member suggested the use of a general “get out” clause. But what does that mean? I am informed that this was a “reference to the trustees’ general power to apply designated unrestricted funds for “any” purpose.” I was also informed that “as a Charity, they rarely exercise this power.” But it is a power they can use if they want to!! The Health Board has a Fundraising Team and an Army of Media and P.R. people so why can they not explain to the generous people of Pembrokeshire why the funding structure was changed, where the money goes and what it is spent on. I was told at a recent meeting with the Chair of the Pembrokeshire Charitable Funds Committee that donations in Pembrokeshire have, “gone through the floor”. If there is no “Trust” then people will not give. Many people now give money to organisations that hold funds outside the reach of the Health Board like the League of Friends and the Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit Appeal Shop who are happy to explain to donors how the funds are distributed. As I said, my main concern is for Cancer Services at Withybush Hospital. I took a look at the Hywel Dda Health Board’s “Cancer Delivery Plan 2013- 16” and there is NO “Planned Action” to establish a new CDU at Withybush Hospital or to Refurbish Ward 10. It is very strange that this is not shown as we have been told for many years now that the plan to do this is ongoing. The “buzz words” these days are Honesty and Transparency so can we please have some from the Hywel Dda Health Board on Charitable Funds……… Please? A Board spokesperson told the Herald: “The University Health Board has repeatedly stated both to Mrs Evans- Thomas and other interested parties that, other than the ‘Bucket Full of Hope’ Appeal Fund monies, the University Health Board did not receive donations and legacies from the public to the Cancer Services Pembrokeshire Fund with any specific wish that they were for the ‘Bucket Full of Hope’ or any expressed restriction (most likely in the form of a legacy) that it be used in this way “The Charity Commission have confirmed that under charity legislation the Trustees have a duty to expend the funds under the objects of the charity to which they were donated and these are specifically NHS. It was further confirmed by them that the University Health Board’s Charity has no power to hand these monies wholesale to a non NHS charity. Therefore it is the hospital charity that is responsible for the public discharge of those funds under Charity Commission rules and charity legislation. “NHS bodies can work with other charities on matters of joint interest. However, this would usually be in the form of expenditure grants directly to shared projects and not what ‘Bucket Full of Hope’ are requesting. It is for the Trustees of the NHS charity to make decisions insofar as they lie within their power.”

News

Bird keepers in Wales urged to stay vigilant as avian flu cases rise

Published

30 mins ago

December 18, 2024

Tom Sinclair

BIRD KEEPERS across Wales are being warned to remain alert and implement biosecurity measures after a surge in avian influenza cases in poultry and kept birds across Great Britain.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has declared a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) covering East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Within the AIPZ, mandatory enhanced biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the disease from spreading further and to protect flocks.

The UK is now in a period of heightened risk from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), prompting calls for increased vigilance from Welsh bird keepers.

Biosecurity is Key

Dr Richard Irvine, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, highlighted the importance of biosecurity:
“The winter migration period significantly increases the risk to poultry and kept birds. Recent rises in confirmed cases of avian influenza in both wild and kept birds across the UK are deeply concerning.

“Maintaining scrupulous hygiene and biosecurity measures daily is the best defence against this highly infectious disease. I urge all bird keepers in Wales to act now to protect their flocks and prevent the spread of bird flu.

“Vigilance is essential. Any signs or suspicions of avian influenza in flocks must be reported immediately.”

Legal Requirements and Further Guidance

Bird keepers in Wales and England are now legally required to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). This registration allows APHA to provide timely updates and guidance during disease outbreaks, helping keepers make informed decisions to safeguard their birds.

Further advice, including a biosecurity self-assessment checklist, is available on the Welsh Government website.

The current AIPZ in England may expand, with housing measures and other mandatory protective actions under constant review as the disease situation develops.

Reporting and Resources

Dead wild birds should be reported to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77, and any suspicions of avian influenza in kept birds must be promptly reported to APHA on 0300 303 8268.

Details about current national risk levels for avian influenza, along with the evidence supporting these levels, can be found at gov.uk/birdflu. Additional information on disease control measures in England is available in Defra’s guidance, Bird flu: rules in disease control zones in England.

Zone declarations are accessible through the notifiable disease case finder.

By adopting rigorous biosecurity practices and reporting any concerns, bird keepers in Wales can help protect their flocks and reduce the spread of avian influenza.

Community

Ben Lake MP visits postal workers during Christmas rush

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Tom Sinclair

BEN LAKE MP visited postal workers at the Llandysul Delivery Office last Friday (Dec 13) to show his support and gain insight into their operations during the festive season—the busiest time of the year for Royal Mail.

The holiday period sees Royal Mail handle around double its usual volume of letters and parcels, as people send Christmas cards and shop for gifts online. To meet this seasonal surge, the Llandysul Delivery Office has hired four extra vehicles, while Royal Mail nationally has recruited 16,000 temporary workers and introduced nearly 4,000 additional vans, trucks, and trailers.

During the visit, Ben Lake spoke with Ryan Goellnitz, Customer Operations Manager, about Royal Mail’s efforts to enhance convenience for customers. These include services like Parcel Collect—where posties collect parcels directly from customers’ doorsteps—and the introduction of over 5,000 new parcel drop-off points this year, including at Collect+ stores and parcel lockers.

Ryan Goellnitz said:
“It was great to have Ben visit our Delivery Office and show him how we are gearing up for our peak period. We are pulling out all the stops to deliver Christmas for our customers.”

Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion Preseli, praised the dedication of the postal workers:
“It was a pleasure to visit the Llandysul Delivery Office and witness the incredible volume of post managed by Royal Mail, not only here but across the country. This is an essential service year-round, but the effort and planning to ensure smooth operations during Christmas are extraordinary.

“I am immensely grateful for their tireless efforts and dedication, which deserve to be fully recognised. The visit gave me real appreciation for the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.”

Royal Mail’s preparations for Christmas are a year-long effort, ensuring the postal service continues to meet the festive demand.

News

Pembrokeshire County Council achieve Insport Partnerships Gold Standard

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Herald Sport

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL have recently achieved the insport Partnerships Gold Standard, recognising their commitment and passion to providing inclusive opportunities for disabled people across the local authority area.

‘insport’ is a Disability Sport Wales programme delivered with the support the of Sport Wales, which aims to support the physical activity, sport, and leisure sectors delivering inclusively of disabled people. The purpose of the insport programmes is to support the development of inclusive thinking, planning, development and delivery by everyone within an organisation so that ultimately, they will deliver across the spectrum to disabled and non-disabled people, at whatever level they wish to participate or compete. The intent is to facilitate and deliver cultural change in attitude, approach, and provision of physical activity (including sport) and wider opportunities for disabled people.

Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Leisure have consistently developed their offers for disabled people locally, becoming the first local authority partner nationally to achieve the insport Partnerships Gold standard. Working with the natural, rural and coastal assets, the Sport Pembrokeshire & Pembrokeshire Leisure teams’ have done a fantastic job in navigating the opportunities and challenges to prioritise the inclusion of disabled people in leisure & community-based physical activity (including sport) opportunities. Ensuring that as many people as possible can be involved in sport and physical activity.

Achievement of the insport Partnerships Gold standard means that an inclusive approach to communities of disabled people is embedded within strategies, programmes, and thinking. This award is never the end of an organisation’s inclusion journey, and Disability Sport Wales will continue to support Pembrokeshire County Council as they continue to provide sector leading inclusive opportunities for disabled people.

Pembrokeshire have a number of excellent examples of collaborative work and partnerships supporting the delivery of strong inclusive programming across Pembrokeshire’s communities which add significant value to the area’s rich inclusive sporting heritage. These opportunities provide the initial steps on the pathway that many former and current Paralympic and Commonwealth Games Para athletes have taken from Pembrokeshire, including the Paris 2024 Paralympic Champion, Matt Bush; Paris 2024 Paralympic athlete, Jodie Grinham; 2022 Commonwealth Games medallist Lily Rice.

Tom Rogers (Governance & Partnership Director, Disability Sport Wales) said: “Pembrokeshire’s achievement of the insport Partnerships Gold standard is a remarkable milestone that highlights the unwavering commitment to inclusion in physical activity (including sport). This achievement recognises the efforts in creating opportunities that ensure everyone, regardless of ability, can participate and thrive in physical activity and sport at a level of their choosing.

Achieving the insport Partnerships Gold standard reflects the culture of inclusivity and recognises the excellent example for communities across Wales and beyond of an embedded culture of inclusion. Sport Pembrokeshire’s dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering an equitable and person centred approach to the delivery of physical activity is reflected across their programming. The commitment to inclusion exits across the Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Leisure teams’ and the achievement of this standard recognises the years of hard work by current and former team members, as well as excellent community led opportunities across the local authority area.

Congratulations on this significant achievement—your success paves the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in sport.”

Matt Freeman, Sport Pembrokeshire Manager said, “Pembrokeshire County Council is proud to achieve the prestigious insport Gold Standard, a recognition of our commitment to championing inclusive sport and physical activity across the county. This milestone, led by Sport Pembrokeshire – the Council’s sports development team – reflects the collaborative efforts of our partners to ensure opportunities for inclusive participation continue to grow. We remain dedicated to working with both new and existing partners to expand access and make inclusive provision a cornerstone of sport and physical activity in Pembrokeshire”.