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Commission says ambulance charities must be independent
THE Charity Commission says that trustees of an air ambulance charity must not be directed by the local ambulance service.
In a letter written to all ambulance charities by David Locke, executive director of the Charity Commission, on December 4 2007 he says: "Independence is a basic requirement for all charities.
"Charities must exist for charitable purposes, not just to carry out another body's policies or instructions.
"We recognise that ambulance services and air ambulance charities need to work in partnership.
"However the trustees must have freedom to decide how to use the charity's funds and assets to further its charitable purposes. The trustees can be informed by, but must not be directed by, the ambulance service."
A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said that its view was that any potential conflict of interest can be managed by ensuring governance structures that allow for independent' decision making in respect of the charitable funds.
The spokeswoman said the Commission had investigated two concerns from members of the public about Great Western Ambulance Services NHS Trust but found nothing to substantiate the concerns.
One of the concerns was in January 2007 about the funds of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.
The spokesman for the Commission said: "We wrote to the trust to seek clarification of its intentions and further information concerning the appeal. The trust explained that funds raised for ambulance services in Wiltshire would continue to be used in Wiltshire.
"We were satisfied with the trust's explanations and wrote to the complainant explaining that questions about the details of the new service are a matter for the trust to answer."
The Great Western Ambulance Service is one of only two ambulance trusts in the country to be sole trustee of an air ambulance charity.
4:45pm Thursday 15th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: mav, devizes on 5:23pm Thu 15 May 08
To the management of the ambulance service, namely Mr Lynch and your two deputies who have taken control of the Wiltshire Ambulance Appeal, namely Karl Henderson ( head of finance ) and Alan Veasey, ARE YOU NOW GOING TO COMPLY WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSION AND HAND BACK POWER TO THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC.
To the management of the ambulance service, namely Mr Lynch and your two deputies who have taken control of the Wiltshire Ambulance Appeal, namely Karl Henderson ( head of finance ) and Alan Veasey, ARE YOU NOW GOING TO COMPLY WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSION AND HAND BACK POWER TO THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC.
Posted by: lynchwest, Devizes on 9:49pm Fri 16 May 08
Independence is the key word here. How can we be sure that the current situation whereby Trust Board members of the Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) are acting independently when they sit on the board of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance? How can we be sure that they are acting 'in the best interests of the Charity' as opposed to the interests of GWAS? Surely there is a conflict of interest here and the only way to deal with it, is for the Charity to be run independent of GWAS, as the Charity Commission states. The Wiltshire Air Ambulance was set up many years ago by the then Wiltshire Ambulance Service for the people of Wiltshire, not Avon and not Gloucester. The people of Wiltshire MUST decide its best interests not some unelected individuals who see it as an extension of their organisaton to do as they please. How many current members of the Charity Board have actually got off their backsides and visited the Wiltshire Air Ambulance? Very few if any, is the answer, which begs the question 'do they truely care about the Charity'? After reading the Health Commission's report into the failings of GWAS management, I fear for the future of this Charity. [bold]The people of Wiltshire have, for many years, been proud supporters of this Charity, it is now time for they to take control and decide its fate, afterall it is they who have been providing the funding.[/bold]
Independence is the key word here. How can we be sure that the current situation whereby Trust Board members of the Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) are acting independently when they sit on the board of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance? How can we be sure that they are acting 'in the best interests of the Charity' as opposed to the interests of GWAS? Surely there is a conflict of interest here and the only way to deal with it, is for the Charity to be run independent of GWAS, as the Charity Commission states. The Wiltshire Air Ambulance was set up many years ago by the then Wiltshire Ambulance Service for the people of Wiltshire, not Avon and not Gloucester. The people of Wiltshire MUST decide its best interests not some unelected individuals who see it as an extension of their organisaton to do as they please. How many current members of the Charity Board have actually got off their backsides and visited the Wiltshire Air Ambulance? Very few if any, is the answer, which begs the question 'do they truely care about the Charity'? After reading the Health Commission's report into the failings of GWAS management, I fear for the future of this Charity.
The people of Wiltshire have, for many years, been proud supporters of this Charity, it is now time for they to take control and decide its fate, afterall it is they who have been providing the funding. Posted by: George, Wiltshire on 9:20am Sat 17 May 08
Surely the management of GWAS aren`t as arrogant as to dismiss the framework document brought out by the Charities Commission and the opinion of the public. If they do, this would show ignorance at a new level.
Mr Lynch, show some leadership and listen to the people of Wiltshire and the crews from the Air Ambulance in Devizes.
Surely the management of GWAS aren`t as arrogant as to dismiss the framework document brought out by the Charities Commission and the opinion of the public. If they do, this would show ignorance at a new level.
Mr Lynch, show some leadership and listen to the people of Wiltshire and the crews from the Air Ambulance in Devizes.
Posted by: Pete, Wiltshire on 12:25pm Sat 17 May 08
Come on Great Western don’t break this as well. It seems you have enough trouble coping with the day to day running of the Ambulance Service?
Be sensible and give the appeal back to Wiltshire so Wiltshire people can decide how the charity is run? Give it up before you look even bigger fools by having it forced from you.
Come on Great Western don’t break this as well. It seems you have enough trouble coping with the day to day running of the Ambulance Service?
Be sensible and give the appeal back to Wiltshire so Wiltshire people can decide how the charity is run? Give it up before you look even bigger fools by having it forced from you.
Posted by: Iceman, Swindon on 9:57pm Tue 20 May 08
[quote]The spokeswoman said the Commission had investigated two concerns from members of the public about Great Western Ambulance Services NHS Trust but found nothing to substantiate the concerns[/quote] Guess they didn't investigate these concerns in any great detail then! How can the GWAS management remain in control of this charity and be acting in it's best interests when they are looking to get rid of the air ambulance and replace it with something that will cost substantially more? How can this be furthering the charitable purposes when it is a blatant waste of donated money and will be providing less than the current service? Do the decent thing (which you should have done when GWAS was first formed) and hand control of the charity over to an independant board.
The spokeswoman said the Commission had investigated two concerns from members of the public about Great Western Ambulance Services NHS Trust but found nothing to substantiate the concerns
Guess they didn't investigate these concerns in any great detail then! How can the GWAS management remain in control of this charity and be acting in it's best interests when they are looking to get rid of the air ambulance and replace it with something that will cost substantially more? How can this be furthering the charitable purposes when it is a blatant waste of donated money and will be providing less than the current service? Do the decent thing (which you should have done when GWAS was first formed) and hand control of the charity over to an independant board.
Posted by: lynchwest, Devizes on 11:31pm Tue 20 May 08
I agree Iceman, members of the Trust Board of GWAS also being members of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charity, surely a conflict of interest. How can we be sure that when they make a decision for the Charity it is not for the benefit of GWAS? Had over power to a totally independent Board of Trustees now!!!
I agree Iceman, members of the Trust Board of GWAS also being members of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charity, surely a conflict of interest. How can we be sure that when they make a decision for the Charity it is not for the benefit of GWAS? Had over power to a totally independent Board of Trustees now!!!
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