Health board spent charity donations on ‘heroin’ plan
THE row over NHS boards using charity cash grew yesterday after it emerged money left in wills was spent on plans for a heroin ‘shooting gallery’.
Some £100,000 was invested in research for the project – even though it was later blocked by Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC.
The ‘safer consumption’ centre would have let addicts bring in their own drugs to use under supervision.
The money came from a NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) endowment fund financed by donations, including bequests.
A member of the Glasgow City Integrated Joint Board (GCIJB) behind the proposals raised concerns over the way the cash was used.
Simon Carr, who is also a non-executive board member of NHSGGC, said at a recent meeting the money was not being used for the ‘right purpose’, adding: ‘I disagree with the amount of money, it’s too much.’ He added: ‘There’s a real risk that if this service doesn’t go ahead, we’re down on endowments.’
Health Secretary Shona Robison is under increasing pressure to resign following the crisis at NHS Tayside, where charity donations were used for general running costs.
Scottish Tory public health spokesman Annie Wells said: ‘Given the fiasco in Tayside over the use of charitable donations, this issue is worth another look.
‘Health boards have to be responsible and transparent when using these donations. If they’re not, peo- ple will lose confidence and will take their cash elsewhere in future.’
Scottish Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: ‘We have repeatedly called for an immediate national investigation to ensure such behaviour is not going on elsewhere, including at NHSGGC .
‘Shona Robison is out of her depth, out of ideas and out of time. She should be considering her position.’
Patients’ campaigner Rab Wilson said: ‘There has to be a national investigation of all of the health boards. I suspect what we have found out so far is the tip of the iceberg.’
Ian Ritchie, chairman of the endowments committee at NHSGGC, said: ‘The case for research into the effects of this new facility is compelling. We believe this is an appropriate use of the board’s endowment funds.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘NHS Scotland endowment funds operate within legal frameworks regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator.
‘The chief executive of NHS Scotland has written to all boards asking for assurances endowment funds are being used appropriately.’
‘The tip of the iceberg’