Watchdog calls for openness over charitable funds (From Western Telegraph)

Watchdog calls for openness over charitable funds

6:30pm Sunday 20th January 2013 in County News

Openness and transparency is still required in relation to how Hywel Dda uses charitable funds, the local patients’ watchdog has said.

Members of the Hywel Dda Community Health Council Pembrokeshire committee had previously asked to see the the health board’s charitable accounts and proposed that a CHC member be permitted to sit on the charity committee.

The CHC also repeated calls for details of how to make donations to a specific ward to be left with undertakers so those without access to the internet could be informed. The health board said that systems were being put in place.

CHC chief officer Ashley Warlow said: “We are still looking for openness and transparency. Let’s be open and see what’s happening.”

Peter Llewellyn, Hywel Dda’s head of partnerships and integrated commissioning, made clear that if a specific ward is specified “that is where it will go”.

There had been public concerns that donations were going to a general charitable pot, which is available, but had been reassured that this was not the case when specific requests were made.

An update on the progress on a new Cancer Day Unit (CDU), for which more than £500,000 has been raised, was not available and was again placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

County associate medical director for Pembrokeshire Rob Griffiths said the health board was still looking for sites that had suitable access to the main hospital building.