Sick Kids appeal member denies any wrongdoing

A MEMBER of the New Pyjamas appeal committee whose companies were paid to carry out work on behalf of the crisis-hit campaign has insisted he did nothing wrong.

New media expert and businessman Gordon White was paid a total of 18,000 by the 15 million campaign to raise money for the new Sick Kids hospital.

He was named in an audit report which eventually led to the suspension of director Elaine McGonigle as an investigation raised questions about a variety of payments.

But today Glasgow-based Mr White said he had only ever been a supplier to the New Pyjamas and that he was invited on to the committee after the work was completed.

He said he was shocked to be named in the report, but added he had "absolutely nothing to worry about".

Mr White, who owns Podcastmatters Ltd and Design Matters Ltd, said: "We did some work for the campaign which included audio podcasts, videos, the design work and the social networking site.

"In October of 2009, Elaine McGonigle invited me to be what is called a 'Smartie', and I appreciate it does say on the website 'a committee member'.

"But I haven't spoken to her since then, never been to a meeting and know nothing about the running of the charity. Until now, I wasn't even aware that I was featured on the website, and I haven't been involved in any of the charity's decision making."

The audit, launched by the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF), which is responsible for the New Pyjamas appeal, also mentioned that Mr White's wife, Marion, was on the committee.

Mr White added: "My wife knows as much about the charity as I do. She's a successful fundraiser and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds, which is why Elaine McGonigle made contact with her.

"(My companies] supplied a service to the New Pyjamas for a fraction of the price we normally would. If it was a private company the costs could be three times that."

The report stated that Podcastmatters Ltd received 14,000, while Design Matters was paid nearly 4,000.

The Evening News revealed on Thursday how a dossier of communications between NHS Lothian and the SKFF revealed a long-running wrangle.

Concerns were first raised in January 2009 about the running of the campaign, which is supposed to raise cash for the new Sick Kids hospital when it opens at Little France in 2013.

But figures show that while 500,000 has been spent, only 60,000 has come in.

A spokeswoman for NHS Lothian said: "For over a year now, we have highlighted our concerns about the New Pyjamas campaign – initially with Graham Miller, chair of the New Pyjamas campaign, and subsequently with Grant Macrae, chair of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. We have also discussed them with David Reith, chair of the SKFF Trustees.

"However, as an independent charity, only the SKFF can explain how and why their governance structures have allowed this to continue for so long. Our concern is that public donations given to support the Royal Hospital for Sick Children appear to have been used for other purposes."