Fears Sick Kids hospital New Pyjamas crisis may mean lights out on key funds

Published on Friday 5 February 2010 08:33

THE crisis which has engulfed the campaign to raise money for the new Sick Kids hospital is threatening key parts of the project, an MSP said today.

The 15 million New Pyjamas Campaign – an arm of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) – had pledged to fund five key additions to the new hospital before it was plunged into chaos when its chairman resigned and director was suspended.

It would buy top-of-the-range toys for youngsters and create a classroom so children could keep up with their schoolwork even if they were a long-term inpatient. In addition, internet access for every child would be provided and a new drop-in centre within the hospital paid for.

New Pyjamas was also supposed to stump up for a significant amount of cash to allow relatives to remain close to their children while they were treated, but the appeal was thrown into turmoil when director Elaine McGonigle was suspended and chairman Graeme Millar stepped down.

Dr Ian McKee, a Lothians MSP and former GP, said he had grave concerns about the future of the hospital.

"I understand that this will have a major impact on the planning of the hospital and NHS Lothian will have to go back and look at it again," he said.

"The SKFF has always been a straight-up, honest organisation and I hope this is sorted out."

He added that health secretary Nicola Sturgeon was keeping a close eye on developments. "She was certainly interested enough to contact the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to make sure they would investigate what was happening," he said.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "It is an independent charity and, as such, is subject to the scrutiny of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. We would be keen to be kept fully informed of any investigation that the charity regulator chooses to carry out."

Further revelations also emerged from insiders about strained relations between long-standing trustees of the SKFF and the New Pyjamas.

One NHS source told the Evening News: "I know that when the New Pyjamas came in there were question marks because they seemed to be doing things differently.

"There are trustees who think it is better for volunteers to do a lot of the work New Pyjamas were paying for."

The New Pyjamas campaign is not the only charity to suffer from cancelled events. It was supposed to be launching a joint venture with the Army Benevolent Fund Scotland at Edinburgh Castle last month, with plans for a bumper golfing day at Archerfield later this year.

It is thought tens of thousands of pounds was supposed to come in from this event, but sources in the SKFF told the Evening News links were severed with the ABF when it was contacted on Christmas Eve to say the event was off.

NHS Lothian chairman Dr Charles Winstanley today insisted the plans for the hospital were still on track. "We are committed to providing the best facilities we can in our new hospital for children and young people," he said.

"NHS Lothian appreciates the wide and varied fundraising efforts for our hospitals and services and we know we can look to the people of Lothian for their continued support."

Dr Winstanley confirmed the health board were looking to take a more central role in the campaign and added: "We have made it clear to the SKFF that, as the health authority responsible for this project, we intend to have a central role in the future development of the fundraising campaign."