Boost for NHS charities after Lib Dem campaign

10.29.22am GMT Sat 27th Feb 2010

After Liberal Democrat campaigns last month about NHS charities being nationalised, Jacquie Bell is delighted to see that the Treasury has backed down on the plans. There have been strong protests from Liberal Democrats and others like the Charity Commission - a welcome climb down and a victory for common sense.

The Government were planning on consolidating charitable funds into the accounts of NHS bodies, which would have undermined the independence of the charities and the confidence of donors. The door could have been open for potential manipulation of NHS budgets.

NHS Charities worth £330 million were at risk of being nationalised under new Government accounting rules to be introduced in April 2010, meaning that charitable donations would count as gifts to the state. Locally, they included the North East Ambulance Service Trust Fund, South Tees Hospitals General Charities Fund and other related charities.

The Government could potentially have used these monies to cover up cuts in future health spending by replacing public funds with charitable donations.

Jacquie says " I am now so pleased with this U turn. It is essential that the funds of NHS charities remain separate from those of the state."