Cash transfer was all above board

Health bosses in Ayrshire have come under scrutiny for dipping into a charity pot.

But they insisted cash from the NHS Ayshire & Arran endowment fund was used properly.

In 2012 the health board pumped £800,000 into the endowment fund from another income stream for research into hospital infections with the University of the West of Scotland.

Accountants then moved £184,000 back out of the charity fund as it was no longer needed.

The transfer emerged as NHS Tayside came under fire for using the charity money to pay for new IT.

In a statement, NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: “In 2012, NHS Ayrshire & Arran transferred £800,000 from benefit arising from research from the exchequer fund to the Charity Fund. These funds were used to support research into Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland. This money was for the specific purpose of supporting HAI research within the Institute of Healthcare Associated Infection. In 2017 as part of a regular review of charity funds, the trustees agreed to return a balance of £184,000 to the exchequer as the fund was no longer required for its specified purpose.”

The endowment fund is a registered charity, which raises funds for the benefits of patients.

The health board statement added: “These funds provide extra comforts for patients over and above that provided by Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board. The Charity Fund can also support staff involved in research where that is specified in the charitable donation.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison ordered all health boards to explain how endowment cash was being spent across Scotland resulting in the Ayrshire transfer flashing up.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth welcomed moves to probe boards. He said: “Health boards across Scotland, including NHS Ayrshire and Arran have told the Government that the cuts they face are unsustainable and something has to give. We know that the health board have had to ask the Government if they can borrow money just to balance the books but it is worrying if they have also been moving money in and out of their endowment fund .

“These funds are registered charities who get their income often from public donations. They are not a cash cow to be used as a way of funding projects that should be funded directly by the Government or used to move money around to balance the books. It is vital that any probe by the charity regulator ensures that isn’t happening.’’