Government turns its back on Naomi House families
After nine months of campaigning, Naomi House Children’s Hospice is appalled by the Government’s decision to refuse compensation for the funds they have at risk in the British bank Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander Limited (KSF).
This is a complete contradiction to the recommendation made by the Treasury Select Committee report finding published in May.
Professor Khalid Aziz, Chairman of Naomi House, was furious. On hearing the decision this morning he said “The Government’s incapacity to understand the importance of these funds is disgraceful. Their refusal to compensate us means that we will struggle to continue providing our unique services to life-limited children and young people. The loss of this money could have a tremendous impact on hundreds of families who benefit from the work of Naomi House. Billions of pounds have been spent bailing out incompetence elsewhere in the economy and yet our children, who are some of the most vulnerable in society, go unaided. Our hopes that the Government would do the right thing have been dashed.”
Just last week Christies Hospital in Manchester was told that it will receive compensation for the monies it had invested in KSF, via its local Strategic Health Authority (SHA). Approaches made by Naomi House, to their local SHA have so far failed, despite encouragement by central Government for the hospice to instigate negotiations to find a solution.
“I am delighted for Christies, but it leaves me wondering if there is some kind of North South divide in place here..."
Professor Aziz commented on the Christies success saying, “I am delighted for Christies, but it leaves me wondering if there is some kind of North South divide in place here. Is there a difference between the children in the north and the south? It appears that Christies were successful because of the possibility of a legal judicial review. This type of action may be the only option left open to Naomi House.”
Naomi House has suffered months of uncertainty, since October 2008, when £5.7million of its deposits were put at risk when KSF was placed into administration. As a direct result of the crisis the charity was forced to suspend its hospice at home service which assists families in times of crisis and it is increasingly unlikely that their new unit for teenagers will be able to fully open in the autumn.
In April 2009 the charity were advised, by the administrators for the bank, that it would receive at least 50% of its money back. However, this could take three years to complete.
In April the Treasury Select Committee made a specific recommendation that charities with investments in KSF should be compensated by the Government. The news today means that the Government will not be guaranteeing the rest. The Select Committee report states “…we believe that it is imperative that charities have access to the funds that were provided to them by the public”. The report pays tribute to the work undertaken by the charitable sector, which “often provides the most vulnerable elements of society with invaluable support”.
Professor Khalid Aziz is delighted with the recommendations in the report. Professor Aziz said, “I like to think that, in the face of growing and overwhelming support for our case, the Government can no longer be deaf to our request to be compensated in full. We will continue our campaign to secure the return of the funds we have at risk in KSF. I personally implore the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to do the right thing, charity begins at home!”
Ends
For more information or to arrange an interview with Professor Aziz please contact Communications Manager Tina Lillington on 01962 760 060 or e-mail tina.lillington@naomihouse.org.uk
Notes to editors
Naomi House is a purpose-built children's hospice that provides a homely environment for children and young people with life-limiting conditions that mean that they will not live to become adults.
Situated just north of Winchester in Hampshire, we offer one-to-one palliative care that includes respite, terminal and bereavement care and support children and their families in central southern England. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. It costs around £2.5 million every year to keep this service running.
Naomi House is building a new unit called jacksplace@naomihouse, a hospice for teenagers and young people. An appeal for £12million to build, equip and run jacksplace was launched in September 2007. A legacy from Jack Witham, a local businessman, of £6million was a huge boost to the appeal. Staff and supporters of Naomi House are working hard to raise the remaining £6million that is needed to complete the project. jacksplace, which will be the fourth young person’s hospice in the country, is due to be ready by the autumn of 2009, with the first young people visiting before the end of the same year. When jacksplace is open the costs of running the charity’s two hospices will increase to £4.5million each year.
With just 10% of our income coming from Government, Naomi House relies on the generosity of people in the community to continue its work. Their help and time allows us to provide these crucial care services, free of charge, to children and their families.
