Dismissal at London HEMS

[PANews]

I have just learned that the CEO of the London HEMS Charity was marched off the premises by the Trustees earlier this week.

The CEO is David Philpott the former charity CEO at Essex and Kent and as far as I know of impeccable character. He built up Essex, sorted out various problems with funding at Kent [and set up Surrey and Sussex HEMS to boot] and was I believed head hunted into London HEMS to sort out and build up the non-existent charity funding so they can continue flying after the current aircraft contract expires in 2011.

Does anyone know anything?

[airborne_artist]

He wasn't there very long - he left Kent in August this year, according to this article (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent_business/news/2009/august/7/air_ambulance_boss_steps_down.aspx).

[xaafunder]

At 10 am on Tuesday 17th November, upon my return from a week’s holiday, the chairman of London’s Air Ambulance, accompanied by 2 other trustees, handed me a letter terminating my employment. I was told by the chairman to leave my office immediately and was not allowed time to clear my personal possessions including family photographs. I was then escorted from the premises by a security officer.

Hitherto, I think it fair to say that I have an unblemished record in the Air Ambulance industry over the past decade and my scrapbook is full of accolades. I believe I am highly regarded by my peers.

At the time of my dismissal, just 12 weeks after my start date, I was investigating a complaint about Conflicts of Interest on the board of trustees and allegations of misappropriation of charity funds and resources. In the previous week I had submitted a paper to the trustees making it clear that owing to a lack of proper financial controls, the charity was living beyond its means and trading whilst technically insolvent. As such, there were serious doubts about whether London’s Air Ambulance could afford a replacement helicopter when the current lease expires in 2011.

[heliski22]

Quel f*****g surprise?!

[PANews]

In view of the disclosure of that document - not something I would have posted - there may be something to learn from going to the charity commission web site.... it gives details of the finances and names of the trustees.

Charity Commission Homepage (http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/)

The charity is number 801013

[JTobias]

That doesn't sound good.
And I've just ordered some cuddly toys off their website!

Joel :ok:

[Helinut]

PA,

Your original post did rather encourage disclosure, didn't it? :confused:

[PANews]

I guess that is true.... but I am unsure whether the author of the document would necessarily agree....

I may be over sensitive!!!!

Having asked the question directly of the other parties.... to be met by silence .... the other side of this particular coin might now be of interest.

Why would an organisation that has asked [specifically head hunted from a cushy position in Kent] a eminent fundraiser to report on their faults dismiss same the instant a preliminary report is submitted to them?

They knew the man very well [he is not the product of a 30 minute interview and a bit of role play] were fully aware of his capability and yet....

[airmail]

Thanks for the PM and posts answering my points!

[fluffy5]

Sounds exactly what goes on out here in the middle east, land of the long white dish dash. A descent chap gets hired to sort their crap, and does his job very well, until it leads back to the same people who hired him and then he gets fired because he is incompetent at his job.
I only thought it happens out here and it is expected, maybe I'm being to naive that a bunch of suits in london, have been going shopping in harrods on their company card.......
fluffy

[What Limits]

If you go to the Charity Commission website and search for Virgin HEMS you will get a bit more info about trustees and the history of the charity

[Whirlygig]

The information is all there - use the number given above and search, then use the menus on the left hand side (the links quite small).

I've been involved in a few post-event fraud investigations and the one thing in common with all of them, is the arrogance (and greed) of the perpetrator in that they all think they are too clever to be caught. Of course, they rarely are.

Good luck to David.

Cheers

Whirls

[xaafunder]

The statement copied onto this site was out in the public domain, I am sure David Philpott is comfortable with this.. enough already seems to be hiden

My what a hornets nest..... we have to look at the facts that are out in the public domain.. Chairman of Trustees also paid as Medical Director for the charity. In anyones book that should be conflict of interest.

What do Virgin think of all this, they are very quiet!! do they not have a say in how the funds are spent.

[PANews]

I believe Virgin may have a member on the Trustees but I have no name so cannot check whether that is correct.

I am currently running through all that is Virgin [what an empire] to see if
i can figure out a 'talking head' to comment [or more likely not] on the situation... ditto the Charity Commission. The latter do not comment as such but they have yet to put the latest accounts on line and it may release them to the web site.

I understand that a press release is due to hit the streets Monday but I guess it can only be roughly the same as the statement posted above.

[206 jock]

xaafunder, the London charity probably allows payment of trustees for their 'usual professional services', subject to lots of caveats.

But I agree: instinctively it doesn't sit well in a charitable organisation

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

This thread disturbs me somewhat with all its double talk and implied intrigue.

Guys, if you want to tell us all something then do it for Gods sake!!

The cloak and dagger rubbish is just that unless you have some facts to share. If not shut up and go back to the little holes from whence you crawled.

DB

[Whirlygig]

If any one person knows enough of the story, I'm sure they'd say; albeit under a Nom de Pprune.

The thing is, is that there are some people who know something and other people who know other things and unless they can get together under the guise of an anonymous forum, we may never get the whole picture.

Patience dear boy, patience ....

Cheers

Whirls

[PANews]

Apologies Double Bogey if this has to be drip drip process - something that Pprune excels in.

I believe that even if any one of us had everything in place [and I certainly do not] and it was posted in one hit this thread would die instantly. The Principals in this mess are better served by raising public awareness and allowing space for return comment. To date yours is the first 'protest' on any of this but I guess it is just a sense of 'get on with it' from an outsider rather than an insider probing.

Additionaly I never use a Nom de PPRuNe that is not transparent so sensitive matters need to be handled with care. Only one individual has been named on this thread for a reason.... but the information is out there and indicated. I now have the name of the Virgin rep off thread and have contacted the company and Charity Commission seperately.

Although I have an overall picture [as you do ] sometimes some of the detail eludes. Some of the non-core detail will probably never get on here.

I will now return to my [well advertised] hole.

[Epiphany]

Don't let Mr Angry from ABZ rile you PANews. It is about time that the London HEMS dirty laundry was aired in public. As one who previously worked there I am surprised it has taken so long.

[xaafunder]

Has anyone else heard that London HEMS doctors were being paid to provide advice to another air ambulance charity (possibly Essex). I hope the London Air Ambulance charity got that money. If I were in Essex I would want some answers..............

I am still looking but I am sure there are possibly other AA charities that have London HEMS doctors on their payroll, the question needs to be asked ........when do they get the time to do the day job that no doubt they are highly rewarded for

:=

[PANews]

I was not aware of the Essex Connection until now.

I am aware that the Charity Commission web site shows that one of the Virgin HEMS Trustees [The Chairman] has links to another Charity [1126752]. That is a newborn so the detail is sparse.

The same individual took part in the rule making for the AAA. That is to be found on the AAA website as a download called 'Framework'

The Association of Air Ambulances in the UK (http://www.airambulanceassociation.co.uk/framework.php)

It is suggested that some aspects of that very framework are apparently being flouted but these are 'only' guidlines providing 'examples of good practice to which Air Ambulance Services can aspire' so even if they are being abused that is not necessarily illegal. HEMS has been around for a lot longer than the Framework so it can rightly be said that it takes time to readjust old bad habits.

What may be at issue is likely to boil down to a minimum of Charity law. Whether it goes further than that remains to be seen.

[DauphanSpotter]

I'm with Epiphany here - it is time their dirty washing was aired - there is a lot more dirt under the surface than anyone can ever believe possible....however I will lay money that Mr. Philpot will be gagged by a solicitor before the week is out - just as many others have been in the past that have tried to reveal just exactly what is going on.

[Coconutty]

...... it is time their dirty washing was aired .........
...... there is a lot more dirt under the surface.......
...... I will lay money that Mr. Philpot will be gagged by a solicitor before the week is out .....So - Up to five more days to complete the "laundering" then ! :}

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Coconutty.jpg

[xaafunder]

First MP's expenses, then bankers bonuses, now charity shenanighans................whatever next.

[PANews]

Although I have continued to fail to get a reaction from either London HEMS, Virgin or the Charity Commission it seems that someone got a squeak out of two of them.

London's Air Ambulance chief executive sacked by trustees - Third Sector (http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/969474/Londons-Air-Ambulance-chief-executive-sacked-trustees/)

London's Air Ambulance chief executive sacked by trustees

By Kate Youde, Third Sector Online, 25 November 2009
Charity is investigating allegations of malpractice made by David Philpott

The board of London's Air Ambulance (http://www.londonsairambulance.org/) has sacked its chief executive, who was investigating allegations of malpractice at the charity, after only 12 weeks in the job.
David Philpott, who was escorted off the charity's premises by trustees on 17 November, was looking into written and verbal allegations made by "trustees, staff and the wider community", he said.

Philpott said he was planning to take the charity to an employment tribunal on the grounds of wrongful dismissal.
A spokeswoman for London's Air Ambulance, which is also known as Virgin Hems London, confirmed that the trustee board had terminated Philpott's contract "under the terms of his probationary period".
"The board of trustees is aware of various issues which Mr Philpott has raised during the course of his employment and is taking appropriate steps to thoroughly investigate those matters to ensure the trust's continued adherence to best principles of governance," she said.
"In light of the need to observe procedural fairness, no further comment will be made until the conclusion of this investigation."
Former chief executive Andrew Cameron will act as interim head of the organisation until a replacement is appointed.
A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission (http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/) said concerns had been raised with the regulator and it was assessing what further action might be required.
Philpott, who was previously chief executive of Kent Air Ambulance (http://www.kentairambulance.co.uk/) for six years, said he had been "overwhelmed by the messages of support from so many friends and colleagues" since his dismissal.
That is not that my E-mail has been 'quiet'... the allegations continue to flow from a variety of sources... but so far no-one who knows anything first hand is prepared to stand up and be counted - let alone quote, day date time place.

There is also a link at Civil Society - Welcome (http://www.civilsociety.co.uk)

Prominent CEO sacked while investigating trustees

Tania Mason (http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/profile/Tania-Mason) | 25 Nov 2009



David Philpott, chief executive of the London Air Ambulance charity, has been sacked as he was investigating allegations about conflicts of interest and misuse of funds against some of the trustees.
Philpott (pictured), a prominent member of the Air Ambulance community who has also been chief executive of the Essex and Kent HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) charities, returned to work after a week’s holiday last Tuesday to be handed a letter of dismissal by three of the trustees.

He was told to leave his office immediately and was not allowed any time to clear his personal possessions. He was then marched off the premises by a security guard. He had been working for the London charity - whose formal name is Virgin HEMS (London) - for 12 weeks after being headhunted from Kent Air Ambulance Trust.
He said the letter contained no reason for his dismissal.
Philpott told Civil Society that at the time of his dismissal, he had been investigating seven separate verbal and written allegations against certain members of the board. The allegations had been made by other trustees, staff and the wider community, he said.

Because he was escorted from the premises he was unable to take his evidence files with him and does not know what has happened to these.

But he also stressed that the allegations are still unproven, and with no concrete evidence yet to prove their validity, he would not name the trustees in question.

The week before Philpott was sacked, he had submitted a paper to the trustees that made clear that, owing to a lack of proper financial controls, the charity was living beyond its means and trading while technically insolvent. This meant there were serious doubts about whether London’s Air Ambulance could afford a replacement helicopter when the current lease expires in 2011.
Trustees' response

In response, the charity issued a statement saying its trustee board is "investigating matters arising out of Mr Philpott’s period of employment with the Trust which caused us concern at that time and which continue to cause concern.
"In light of the need to observe procedural fairness, no further comment will be made until the conclusion of this investigation."
Andrew Cameron, former chief executive, will act as interim CEO until a replacement has been appointed.

The board added that it was aware of various issues raised by Philpott during the course of his employment "and is taking appropriate steps to thoroughly investigate those matters to ensure the Trust’s continued adherence to best principles of governance".

A Charity Commission spokeswoman confirmed that "concerns have been raised and we’re currently assessing what further action may be required of us”.
Philpott said he would sue Virgin HEMS London for wrongful dismissal.
During Philpott’s six-year tenure at Kent Air Ambulance Trust, he overhauled the charity’s finances, promoted the deployment of specialist on-board medics and launched new services into Sussex and Surrey. When he resigned, Trust chairman Tony Monteuuis paid tribute to his “creative vision” and said: “The board has always been very happy to run with him on issues relating to expenditure and new ventures because his logic was clear and he had a sound view of where we should be heading.”

Philpott was also the founding chairman of the Association of Air Ambulance Charities, a post he held for three years.

[gregryan]

It has been rumoured for some time that two of the trustees have set up their own non-charitable company which provides medical consultancy advice to other medical organisations and other HEMS units.

Their income from this company appears to be on top of the considerable salaries that they already receive from the NHS and the advice is often given during their working time for the NHS and the Virgin HEMS charity.

If this is true, there must certainly be a conflict of interests.

[PANews]

It is no rumour. But it is muddy waters where the term HEMS is used regularly in a variety of styles.

An organisation offering HEMS crew training [at an unstated price] was advertising itself and its links to the London Air Ambulance [Charity] today at the Emergency Services Show in Stonleigh. The Principals of that organisation were not apparently present but they had leaflets being tended by fund raisers on the London Air Ambulance Charity fundraising stand. [no. 321] The leaflet for HCC/HEMS Crew Courses makes a link to individuals at The Royal London and GNAA.

A pop up banner also exhibited left it unclear whether this is the same as the 'HEMS' charity that the Charity Commission has links to a member of the London Trustees but there was no associated leaflet available for the pop up when I asked .... which suggests two different products with the same support structure.....

[gregryan]

There are two charitable organisations:

Virgin HEMS (London) Ltd, charity number 801013, which provides the daily daytime HEMS air ambulance service in London plus the night-time car doctor service.

UK HEMS, charity number 1126752, which provides education and crew training on air ambulance matters. (This is totally separate to Virgin HEMS but uses their facilities and personnel for training courses)

There is also rumoured to be the third totally separate non-charitable company that I mentioned above.

Strangely, there is one name linked to all three and another name that is common to two, one charitable and one not.

[Princess Pushy]

Why would they bring in the same guy to cover for the London Air Ambulance Charity who was obviously covering for these people, has he no shame....
David Philpott is an honourable man and should not be discredited for doing his job properly. It has taken an honest sincere man to find out what these people are doing. These Dr's are a bunch of crooks and should be brought down. Why are these 2 Dr's still allowed to be working when Mr philpott has been sacked it is a disgrace. The Trustees should be made to pay back all this money to the charity, misuse of the roof for private use and making the charity pay for his work is a total sham.
Is there no justice in this world today?? What about all the other trustees one whom has been charging the charity for her work..
Would you want to donate money to an organisation like that because I cetainly wouldn't. And I hope the public get to know what has been going on and that London Hems falls flat (harsh I know)

[xaafunder]

I think we could all echo the sentiments of Princess Pushy:-

Charities are strange beasts....... Air Ambulance charities are relatively new kids on the block. Some headed by unpaid, and sad to say, unsuitable Trustees to run a multi million pound organisation.

I ask the board at HEMS, is it not time to do the right thing and stand aside, bring in the Charity Commission to review and let them decide who is best able to take the service forward with honesty and transparency.

These two virtues sadly lacking until Mr Philpott arrived on the scene!

However let’s not forget there is a life saving service that needs to keep flying........honourable men would have stood down by now and let the fundraisers continue.

[DauphanSpotter]

UK HEMS does indeed use facilities for training - NHS ones - do they reimburse the NHS for those costs I wonder?

[206 jock]

I can smell a few new posters talking to themselves on this thread......wouldn't be the first time.

I'm sure that there are two sides to this story and no-one is squeaky clean. It will undoubtedly all come out in the wash.

[gregryan]

206 jock

With nearly 7,000 views on this thread in six days I doubt very much whether they are "talking to themselves". Do you have anything useful to add?

[heliski22]

And things don't always come out in the wash, either, so keep on talking, people!!!!

[gregryan]

airmail

I would strongly suggest that you have a much closer look at the 'Charity Commision' website that PANews referred to.

I am not being argumentative, just suggesting that facts are checked before faux pas are made.


P.S.

This now appears out of context because airmail's previous post (plus some others) have been deleted. I suspect that the moderator has been moderating.

[airmail]

gregryan

I did look at the website and noted the facts that have been stated there. However, there are 8 trustees in total, 3 of which are doctors and only 1 of those has a link to another charity that is newly registered. There are numerous allegations that are coming out in this thread, only one poster has mentioned that it is the doctors who may or may not have done something wrong. Are you confirming that it is the doctors on the board who are potential wrongdoers or do you know what the other 5 trustees do and it is they?

You appear to have some knowledge that you are not imparting - maybe you should just share it and be done with it?

BTW, I am not being argumentative, I am a volunteer for another AA and wholly support the work that is done nationally by all people that want to help these organisations. If people (be it doctors or others) are, in effect, taking the public, NHS and others for a ride then I personally want it to come out as soon as possible. If what was stated earlier is true about the charity living beyond its means due to illegal actions and not being able to afford a helicopter after 2011 then it, in my eyes, would be a national disgrace and not just a huge loss for London

[gregryan]

airmail

Unfortunately, it is not possible to go any further at the moment without breaking the rules of this forum. You just have to accept that this is a 'Rumour Network'.

[DauphanSpotter]

I whole heartedly agree it would be a national disgrace if such an important service such as this was pulled and I think that the reason facts relating to wrong doings (and I do indeed mean fact and not rumour) have been kept quiet for so long is because LAA supporters have always believed that air ambulances are an essential part of delivering quality healthcare to injured people.

However, there comes a time where perhaps people such as Mr. Philpott should stand up and be counted. As I alluded to before, previous ex staff who have been sacked (or pushed out) from the service have been gagged and not been in a position to right some wrongs - maybe it's time for change. Good luck to Mr. P I say.

[Sham69]

I tend to be in agreement with 206 jock...there is some familiarity with the tone of some of the postings.

I'm not saying that this is the case on this forum, but it is a well known fact that aggreived ex-employees start a witch hunt in order to get their view across - whether their grievance is fact or otherwise.

I'm sure the truth will prevail, but in the meantime stop hounding the persons referred to in previous postings and let them get on with what they do best - saving lives!

[206 jock]

I've been forum-gagged! A deleted post, presumably I was 'modded'. Not sure what for tho.

And no, Sham 69 isn't me!

[Whirlygig]

There is also rumoured to be the third totally separate non-charitable company that I mentioned above.
No rumour at all - the information is publicly available at Companies House (albeit for a fee for non-account holders!). Two of the Trustee doctors are also directors of the following companies.

Medical Excellence Ltd
London's Air Ambulance Trading Ltd
Trauma.org Ltd
EMSC Ltd

However, these are all very small companies, two of which made losses and are hardly going to set the world alight. The two charities mentioned are also limited companies and these directorships have all been disclosed.

Cheers

Whirls

[sss]

Despite knowing plenty involved in UKAA flying. I have never been a fan of the fact that it is run by charity.

Maybe it will soon be time to get rid of the charity side of the business and get them properly funded and organised. Either run under the relevant ambulance trust or even more revolutionary joint emergency service helicopter units.

[PANews]

SSS

Properly monitored and properly run charity air ambulances work very well.

The problem is that the number of people with the fund raising and people skills interested in the industry is finite and the number that will truly do the job for nothing is tiny. So money comes into obtaining the right people and attracts those that might be better off working elsewhere.... the funding stream allows for them to be paid without unduly affecting profit. Most
UK AA operations are financially comfy.

There are many instances of individual fundraisers simply runnng off with the money from time to time... but people steal all sorts of collecting boxes from pubs. The bigger the industry the more instances will appear.

As we have seen today in the stories of NHS funded 'properly' run Essex Hospitals faults can arise in the non-charity sector. It is not a perfect world and in that imperfect world there is room for charitable air ambulances, they are independent and appear to work better than similar commercial air ambulances in the US. Many of the US models are operated in the iron grasp of the hospital and the doctors.... they choose how the operation started and carries on. There the doctor often chooses the aircraft because the defib machine fits well.. ... the crews make it work in the sky.

In the Uk the Scottish Air Ambulance is tied into the NHS... the English and Welsh ones independent.... I think we could see that Virgin HEMS [and the police HEMS operations in Sussex and Wiltshire] sat in the middle when created .... NHS [police] money with a tiny charity input .... and has yet to make the transition to let the charity take up the slack that has appeared as the NHS funding diminished......

Perhaps we should stand back and understand that transitions can be very difficult....

[Helinut]

sss,

You may just swap one set of problems for another if you go for general government funding for the AAs. The heavy hand of central government is not well known for efficient and effective management of anything.

I am pretty sure that I have read somewhere that (unlike the other English and Welsh AAs) the London HEMS is already partly paid for by the NHS. Some sort of annual contribution but I am not entirely sure of that.

Do other AA charities have such close links with the NHS through A&E doctors, does anyone know?

Operationally, the relevant Ground Ambulance NHS Trusts seems to play a major role in deploying the AAs (and thereby spending the AA Trust charity cash). That too can have its problems. In the UK the (Ground) Ambulance Trusts have an 8 minute target to attend to 999 calls. I have heard suggestions that sometimes AAs are deployed to minor/trivial incidents to help keep the target figures "aligned". I am not sure the people who donate their hard earned would be happy with that.

More transparency might be nice

[Princess Pushy]

Can anyone say whether any dr's and trustees being investigated yet? Does the charity commission know now what is going on and what are they doing about this? Does Virgin know about all this will they pull the plug on there sponsorship of the AA?
Is it true a dr uses the AA as his own personal transport to and from work and uses one of the fast response cars as his personal use, being left at his home for weeks etc! Does he charge them for petrol insurance tax whatever anything to make a bit more money?
This is the peoples charity and yes we still want it to be flying but not with any crooks working for it.
But in the mean time what is happening to Mr Philpott he must be devastated after working all this time for AA charities building them up to be thrown out of a job because he feels passionate about the job he likes to do. And just because he uncovered what these Dr's were doing.
Good luck to you Mr Philpott our thoughts are with you.

[Helinut]

Your Ladyship,

Those sound rather more like statements than questions :suspect:

[PANews]

The Charity Commission Knows, Virgin know, the NHS knows, the AAA know.

The allegations are out there in the various in trays.

I do not expect that Mr Philpot will be 'unemployed' for long.

[902Jon]

PANews The Charity Commission Knows, Virgin know, the NHS knows, the AAA know.
Yes, allegations - but not yet proven. Your profile describes you as an editor/journalist (& ex police officer). Yet you have taken as gospel the information you have received while the above named organisations have yet to comment, as they are probably, and properly, investigating these claims. Your stance is hardly that of the independent/unbiased reporter. I am aware that there is another side to this story.

I do not expect that Mr Philpot will be 'unemployed' for long.
That rather depends on how long this takes to be resolved and what the outcomes from it are.

XAAfunder/gregryan/Princess Pushy/Dauphin Spotter

I wonder who you could be? :rolleyes:

[206 jock]

I wonder who you could be?

What, you mean they might be the same person? All these new forumites?

Watch out Jon, you'll get yourself modded :ugh:

[Woodtulip]

Good luck to Mr Philpott!
I hope he is okay after all :mad:

[gregryan]

I can confirm that I have no connection whatsoever with those other names and I have no idea who they are.

I am a freelance researcher, with an aviation background, working for a London based company.

Which one? - you'll have to guess!

[DauphanSpotter]

902jon

Guess away who I might be, however I am in no way related/connected to/same person as XAAfunder/gregryan/Princess Pushy......

However Princess P - you are so on the ball with those observations....I am impressed :)

[PANews]

902

We seem to have a different language.

Which part of 'know' and 'allegation' suggests a decision on my part on the guilt or otherwise of anyone?

You seem to have a preinstalled axe to grind.

[Skidkid]

Regular readers will know that I have had my ups and downs with PANews in the past.

However, in this case, I back him up to the hilt. I have examined his posts carefully and he has not made any allegations. As a journalist, he has reported what he has heard, or read, and and is trying to find out what is going on.

It is very obvious from other posts that there may be some underhand, possibly illegal, activities that are going on which he is trying to expose. Good for him, that's what journalists do well in our democratic society. In journalism, it is often said that if you are digging deep and people are objecting, then you are close to digging up some dirt.

Keep up the good work PANews, keep digging and use the JCB if you have to.

[Dantruck]

Or, to put it another way Skidkid...

"If some readers aren't complaining and you ain't being threatened with gagging orders, libel action, etc, you ain't doin' it right."

At least that's how I was taught to be a Wordsmith :ok:

Dan

[xaafunder]

I can assure you all I am not cloned!!

I understand that the Board of HEMS have commissioned an independent enquiry, however those in question of wrong doing are still in place and Mr Philpott is out there looking for a job!!!!!!

As to charity money funding the AA's do we really want a service that relies on Government handouts.......that could be shelved or suffer ‘cut backs’ at any time in the future. Tell that to the hundreds of patients that have benefited from the service.

Charities are governed by the Charities Commission, who's agenda is to ensure the public money donated is spent wisely! They have powers to reprimand and remove those in charge......... I am sure they are looking from afar and will take action soon. Shame they dont work in Whitehall...........

[dream flyer]

Hey,,,,,,less of the aggreaved ex employees,, this man has run succesfull air ambulances previous to his recent london posting, this man has nothing to hide and was brought in to sort out the charities problems, which he was achieving, until it got close to the bone of those in higher authority, amongst these are the trustees, and when muck starts rolling backwards, everyone dives for cover and they seem to flick this emergency switch and out pops this little bubble they can all hide in, thus the perpetrator of such damning evidence is forcefully removed and a cover up begins, everyone within the office is silenced and contact is forbidden,,, Ask yourselves this, why head hunt such a trustworthy man to sort out your problems?? when you know he is going to get to the bottom of any wrong doing within. Why bring back the predesessor whom probably knew everything that was going on above him and may or may not have a healthy interest in keeping quiet?? Private useage of charity emergency vehicles, helicopters, controversial payments to individuals within. Less of the aggreaved employeee next time....:D

[gregryan]

I understand that the Board of HEMS have commissioned an independent enquiry

Will it be made public, I wonder?

[Torquetalk]

And...

Who's paying? What's the remit? Who do the enquirers report to? What guarantees are there that it is independent?

TT

[Princess Pushy]

I understand from the SundayTelegraph that The Trustees are looking into it.... does that mean there Trustees are looking into these allegations does anyone know??? Why would they have there own people checking on what has been going on isn't that a bit odd don't you think. Or do they have someone from the outside world doing the investigating of these corrupt Dr's and a couple of the other trustee's.
I still cannot get my head around why this so called Chairman would employ Mr Philpott knowing how good he was at his job, did he not think he would ever get found out. Mmmm a bit odd I would say or do you think he wanted to be caught and then he could stop all this shananigans that has been going on all these years. Who knows I would love to ask this Dr for a response to some of these allegations, but he has been gagged (unfortunately not for real.) Shame

[Bravo73]

Air ambulance chief sacked after he raised financial concerns - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6677977/Air-ambulance-chief-sacked-after-he-raised-financial-concerns.html)

Air ambulance chief sacked after he raised financial concerns

David Philpott, the head of London's air ambulance service, has been sacked after he launched an investigation into allegations of misuse of funds.



By Laura Donnelly and Alison Moore
Published: 8:50PM GMT 28 Nov 2009

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01532/David-Philpott_1532935c.jpg David Philpott said he had not fully investigated the accusations Photo: IMAGES INTERNATIONAL


Mr Philpott was dismissed as chief executive only 12 weeks after he took up the job, just days after he raised concerns about the charity's financial controls and accountability with its board.
The chief executive, who had previously run air ambulances in Kent and Essex, was headhunted by the charity, which runs both the capital's air ambulance and several emergency response cars.
But within days of taking up his post in August he became concerned about the way the organisation was run.
Mr Philpott was investigating allegations from several sources that charitably-funded vehicles and resources were being used for private purposes, that an £11,000 payment had not been properly authorised and that money from donors and grant-making trusts had been spent for other than its intended use.
Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Philpott said he had not fully investigated the accusations and could not say whether or not the claims were true.
But a paper he prepared for the board the week before he was dismissed raised concerns about the charity's financial controls and accountability.
Some of the concerns have been raised with the Charity Commission.
Mr Philpott also told the board there was no certainty the charity could afford to replace its existing helicopter when its lease ends in April 2011 – potentially putting the future of the London-wide service in doubt.
On 17 Nov, Mr Philpott was handed a letter dismissing him. He was escorted from his office by a security guard and was not even allowed to collect personal photos.
London's air ambulance service operates out of the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, using staff from the hospital, but is financed through a combination of NHS money, sponsorship and charitable donations.
The Virgin Group currently pays half the leasing cost of the aircraft – a sponsorship deal worth around £200,000 a year to the £2 million-a-year charity.
Mr Philpott said that after he had been in post a few weeks he sensed a change of mood among his colleagues.
He said: 'There was some regret that they had brought me in ... I was interfering with their board. I was asking difficult questions. I felt very isolated."
He was sacked with just two weeks' pay midway through his six-month probationary period and is now seeking advice on whether he can go to an employment tribunal.
In a statement, the charity said its board of trustees was thoroughly investigating matters arising out of Mr Philpott's period of employment, "which caused us concern at the time and which continue to cause concern".
A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said: "Concerns have been raised with us and we're currently assessing what further action may be required from us."
The Virgin Group said it was aware of the problems but currently saw no reason to end its relationship with the service.

[gregryan]

Princess Pushy,

You seem to be very well informed and I am wondering whether you can confirm or deny another rumour that I've heard.

That one of the Doctor trustees took his family on holiday to Wales in one of the charity's fast response cars, while his own car was being serviced.

[Princess Pushy]

Sorry I cannot confirm that but I wouldn't put it past this Dr to have done that, after all he did keep the car at his place for some 6 weeks. And he does use the helicopter as his transport to and from work unbelievable really.
Anyone else would be fired immediately, so why is he still allowed to be doing this???
Well at least now the right people are in there investigating these allegations, only hope they are not on ther side otherwise we will be up S--- creek without a paddle (as they say)

[whisky7637]

agree with the bit about people talking to themselves on here trying to make something stick

'Princess Pushy' sounded like something from a swingers site! Why not 'PA news 2' instead!

[PANews]

Whisky..... you drunk?:hmm:

I really cannot say whether people are talking to themselves, I am not sure if I care. What I have noticed is that a number of people have started .... or taken up new identities for fear of being recognised....

Sorry I do not play that game. This thread had its own legs and there was no need to invent stuff to achieve the end result.

I never have [and expect I never will] take on a new identity since I started writing on Pprune. If I cannot or should not say it as 'PANews' it will not appear.....

I was contacted by the Charity Commission today and understand a case worker has been selected to deal with 'a number of complaints' [so that suggests three or more].Funnily enough I was contacted as 'me' and not my alter ego, certainly not as 'Pushy.

I hope that the matter will now take its course and we ppruners and the real centre of this whole affair, David Philpot, will be happy with the outcome. Fingers crossed. To my mind it is now stood on its own two feet but sub-judice.:ok::hmm:

[PANews]

An industry [charity industry not aviation] magazine is running a stort that suggests that London HEMS is allowing an appeal to go ahead.

Civil Society - Governance - News | Air Ambulance board allows sacked CEO to appeal (http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/news/content/5733/air_ambulance_board_allows_sacked_ceo_to_appeal)

Not very exciting but it does show that the danger signs surrounding this row are perhaps dawning on some.

Air Ambulance board allows sacked CEO to appeal

Tania Mason (http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/profile/Tania-Mason) | 9 Dec 2009



The board of the London Air Ambulance charity that sacked chief executive David Philpott after he raised concerns about alleged malpractice by some trustees, has reportedly commissioned an independent review into the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.
The trustee board refused to confirm or deny whether this was true, but Philpott told Civil Society he had heard it was.
However, the independent reviewer has not yet approached Philpott to give evidence.
The trustees of Virgin HEMS London have also agreed to grant Philpott an appeal against his dismissal, and he has sent them a letter setting out his grounds for appeal. In this he claims his dismissal was unfair because it arose from him bringing to the attention of the trustees "as a group and some individual trustees in particular, possible criminal acts and failures of the charity to comply with its legal obligations”.
He said he should have been protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act, and added: “The fact that the trustees terminated my employment on the basis of information supplied by others (who were themselves implicated in the allegations) without giving me the opportunity to respond, denied me a fair hearing and natural justice.”
Philpott told Civil Society that the big issue at stake was public confidence. “If chief executives of charities can be dismissed by their boards for raising questions about probity and financial mismanagement, what confidence can the donating public have that their monies are being properly used?
“Surely CEOs should enjoy immunity from dismissal if concerns are raised in an appropriate manner,” he said.

[Woodtulip]

Thanks for the news :ok:

[PANews]

it looks like this appeal may be a bit of a hollow offer.... it looks as if it was scheduled to be held without the central figure being present by the simple expediant of telling him of the date and time just four hours before the event..... Thursday evening, the 10th, ... a state of affairs suitably aided by Post Office seasonal delays and late in the day deliveries.

And just to make the whole thing 'squeaky clean' for those in elevated places in the East End all the negotiations are being channeled through a middle man.

[Bertie Thruster]

I wonder how many London locals will keep putting their hands in their pockets for the Charity, after this disclosure?

What with the Olympics coming up perhaps the Government will be looking to fully fund the London Air Ambulance?

[PANews]

I believe that the whole of the air ambulance charity industry is worried silly by this and the other wobbles being run on pprune in case the public see these as the norm - which they are not. The vast majority of the AA charities work well and are beyond reproach.

I, for one, am a firm believer in charity air ambulances. there have been causes for concern but they generally work very well in finding the funding even in these difficult times. The last thing that is needed us a loss of public confidence that leads to civil servants getting their hands on air ambulances and closing the important gap between the fundraiser and the ambulance service customer.

Air ambulance charities need to be wholly independent and fairly sqeaky clean and I guess this particular thread is about an organisation that not only gives the impression it is not squeaky clean but that appears to have component parts that are much too close. This appears compounded by a desire not to change long standing supposed 'unacceptable' habits/standards without a major row.

[greenacres]

Somewhat belatedly I understand that David Philpott has been relieved of his duties. I met him on a number of occasions and formed the opinion that he was of person of outstanding character, a born leader. We live in very dangerous times, particularly where employment is concerned. An acquaintance of mine, an electronics man on a job in Taiwan, was suddenly and without any notice at all given a ticket home! It has happened to me more than once - I know what it feels like. My good wishes go to David for the future.

greenacres.

[Princess Pushy]

So long time what's happening, is there any news yet as to what is happening with these fraudsters at London's Air Ambulance. Have any of them been sacked yet???
Swingers aye! I wish mind you wouldn't mind having ago...
And what is happening about Mr Philpott does anyone have any clues yet?? I no he had an appeal in December but what would the outcome be that is the question. Can he possibly go back to London, would they offer him his job back, Mmmmm even some of his staff were in on this scam with these Dr's giving information. Who can be trusted in London I wonder....

[Bertie Thruster]

Princess P: even if you feel strongly about a situation, try not to post late at night, after alcohol!

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Hi Princess P.

Either you have had a stroke or Bertie's Alcholometer is reading correctly and you are guilty of operating a keyboard whilst under the influence of certain intoxicating substances.

Either way I am not sure that Mr Philpott's career is going to be saved by the errant rantings of a Princess on the Pop!!!!

DB

P.S. R U a real Princess ....with a castle and stuff???

[PANews]

A couple of days ago the Charity Commission replied to the papers I sent them.

It is difficult to precis a four page letter adequately but suffice to say that the enquiry stops here. They are not looking into the dismissal of David and effectively they have concluded that there is no case to answer.

I think it says it all when I tell you that the recent HEMS Charity complaints [including London and the Children's] have represented just two niggles about over 190,000 charities in the UK. The staffing level for the Charity Commission is around 499 based in Liverpool. I think its fair to assume that investigating these complaints was undertaken by letter, e-mail and telephone [probably quill pen as well]. No one left their office except to go home on time.

Time alone will tell whether ways have been mended.

[500e]

Are you saying head hunted respected organiser makes representations regarding lack of proberty in running of charity to board, who then remove said person & have him escorted from building?.
Do the commissioners have no reasonable explanation as to the original complaint or the subsequent removal of the person who made complaint.
One would think with the background of the person in question an in depth investigation would be the least that happened.
Still everyone tells me the Lo*****s are running the asylum.
I support an air ambulance with regular donations but am now wondering where my money is going, a charity should be doing it correctly & be seen to do it correctly.
There is the other thread regarding fudging of machine No,s with another AA. it does not sit well if money not used for primary purpose.

[whisky7637]

has anyone read the article?


Philpot talks about Airmed - a conference which I think he was involved with at some point. I was staggered when he started lecturing readers about 'profiteering'. I heard that he had a salary of £150,000 as CEO of London Air Ambulance (before being sacked) and then demanded £50,000 more of charity money to help organise the airmed conference!!

Is this the ultimately greedy 'fat cat'? Am I missing something?

[sweeny]

Interesting can anyone shed light on this I have also heard rumours ............

[sweeny]

Staggering!! If that is true then is that not financial irregularity????? ............. I wonder why he was sacked

[PANews]

Hello Sweeny and Whisky ... that will be a total of FIVE posts from the two of you then... now who were you last week?

I have known David Philpott reasonably well since he bid for and got the next
Airmed [for Brighton next year] while in the last Airmed Prague. At that time the bid was by Kent AA but he left it to them when he briefly went to London [for HOW much?].

He currently has no financial connection with the 2011 Airmed, that was vested in Kent Air Ambulance and remains so. As a consutant I guess there are no rules that I am aware of that might stop him being involved in the future.

I do not know where those financial numbers came from but as you clearly are grasping at straws with your new identity I guess it matters very little.

It is a good job its a rumour network - certainly nothing factual going on in your post.

[whisky7637]

"It is a good job its a rumour network - certainly nothing factual going on in your post."

Sorry to quote you "PA News"- not sure who to address "PA News" as ( PA news considers David Philpot in the third, second, and first person in these posts), but is this a denial that David Philpot's salary was set as £150,000? (until he was sacked).

If so, then David Philpot may need to counsel PA news on misrepresentation of the truth on his behalf. I think the truth is out there on this one!!:(:confused:

Amazing that someone who seems to orchestrate so much rumour, briefing and couterbriefing against others was ever put into a position of authority in any organisation let alone those of such high importance.

W.

[whisky7637]

DAVID PHILPOT IN HELICOPTER LIFE - Staggering!
has anyone read the article?


Philpot talks about Airmed - a conference which I think he was involved with at some point. I was staggered when he started lecturing readers about 'profiteering'. I heard that he had a salary of £150,000 as CEO of London Air Ambulance (before being sacked) and then demanded £50,000 more of charity money to help organise the airmed conference!!

Is this the ultimately greedy 'fat cat'? Am I missing something?
http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/statusicon/user_online.gif http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/buttons/report.gif (http://www.pprune.org/report.php?p=5748193) http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/misc/progress.gif

[Whirlygig]

We heard you the first time (http://www.pprune.org/5748193-post78.html) :hmm:

£150,000 is not a massive salary for any Chief Exec role in London - hardly profiteering. I've never been quite sure why people believe that those who run charities should be charities themselves.

Cheers

Whirls

[Spanish Waltzer]

a conference which I think he was involved with

I heard that he had a salary of

Am I missing something?

........yes credibility as a poster on PPRuNe & fact to back up your accusations. :ugh: :=

[PANews]

Whisky you seem to be paranoid about this. Not content with running the man down here you started another brand new thread with exactly the same allegation.

As was said at the other thread .... we heard you first time ... and what is so strange about a CEO at £150,000 [even if it is true]?

I suspect that David Philpott was employed for many years by Essex AA, then Kent AA and briefly by London AA because he has a good CV. His support at the time of the dispute with London AA was pretty solid across the [presumably deluded] charity, NHS and air ambulance sectors. It is fair to say that regardless of his worth that he has not been out of work for more than a few days since being walked out of the Royal London.

In short he seems to either be pretty good at what he does or has comprehensively hoodwinked the world and his wife.

So, if you have EVIDENCE that all is not as it seems I think you need to step back aways and put a well thought out case into this forum for us all to consider. Until then I would suggest that simply stating that Mr P is a villain based upon a reasonable rate of remuneration for a CEO and his particular thoughts on profiteering expressed in [B]Helicopter Life is just a plain simple nothing.

Meanwhile I will go back to my coffee table and read afresh this article about him for it clearly plumbs hitherto hidden depths.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

As a former HEMs Pilot myself I AM STAGGERED that any administrator should receive a salary of 150K. The real work is done by the Paramedics and Pilots who turn in every day to do the right thing.

This thread sickens me with its self serving rhetoric. Spare just a moment for the people who really do put in a days work for substantially less than the alleged 150K.

No one should work for nought....but 150K of the publics donated money.....****e!!!


I do not really care who is pretending to be whom...but take it outside cos you clearly have no real understanding of what it means to serve on a HEMS unit.

I have known some first rate paramendics who bust a nut every day for no more than 25K with me sat in the diriving seat feeling guilty for raking in 32K.

Little wonder that they reckon that for every £1 given to charity less than 5% actually reaches the intended benificiary.

Greed and avarice. The two great sins!!!

DB

[PANews]

Apologies firstly to those who do not have Helicopter Life Summer 2010 in front of them.

Double Bogey

Just a cotton picking minute .... we have not even had proof that Mr P was even on £150,000 [although at least a couple of us at least see that as not being extortionate] and even if those are the numbers it is a figure that the CEO in question was employed at. It is not a case of him being there long enough to set his own remuneration.

So perhaps those that might have offered/given him such a figure [perhaps to entice him away from somewhere else where he was happy] hold some great responsibility. My information is that the numbers relating to the previous job were significantly less than one third of that figure and the actual length of time in service at The Royal London will have extracted little from the coffers.

So I went back and read that article in Helicopter Life and then read it again and it seems a wholly innocuous article full of fluffy stuff, places and names I have heard of before.... So what is the key to this sudden rebirth of this thread and its Whisky clone?

I cannot be sure... but there is a clue in that Whisky was born very recently .... someone has opened the cupboard and brought about a new identity to serve this purpose. So there must be something in that article that stings and brought forth the birth.

Page 10 may give the clues.... mention of MAGPAS - not a wholly loved organisation ... but not really a matter of major concern .... perhaps more important is the mention of £1M of [hard earned] charity donations being spent by air ambulance organisations on the provision of clinical governance which he states has been provided by certain hospital consultants. David calls that profiteering.

Now that apparently innocuous mention could be construed by some as suggesting that these particular certain hospital consultants are in fact raking in around a quarter of a million [charity] pounds each on top of their significant salaries .... thereby placing any [real or supposed] £150,000pa salary that was never collected completely in the shade and effectively treading on someones toes.

Especially as David is suggesting that Clinical Governance of the system should be provided free by the NHS who are already providing the salaries of the self same hospital consultants [and therefore quite liable to query why they need to pay twice for the same product].

That is a BIG toe!

But am I right to interpret the apparent attack this way?

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

PAnews. I presume you are David Philpot!!!! seen as you not only know so much about this sorry tale but are also his greatest champion.

HEMs is about flying a helicopter with some decent medical staff on board and as much emergency kit you can carry to help people out in the dire hour of need.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with the kind of cloak and dagger politics practised so very often by irritating leeches like yourself who seem to cling to any form of income....no matter how precariously provided.

Administrators and managers are a total and complete waste of income.

On the HEMs unit I worked with for 3 years..., we had an Ambulance Officer as our manager, who also did another regional job in the road ambulance system, and we at the unit ran everything else. All staff being operational.

I am sure that you got treated badly by those who sought to protect their poiseness little lives, but your continued bleating on this forum, to those who DO rather than talk is just boring the bejusus out of us all.

Like I said...take it outside cos we, the operational people, are not listening to anymore whining from the parasites that infect our industry.

DB

[PANews]

Double Bogey, I am sure many people on Pprune will tell you that I am most certainly not David Philpott. That handle [since 1999] is as transparent as they come.... and that somewhat reduces my capability to invent stuff.

The reason I know so much about David's business is that I research what I write. I could put names and numbers in my posts but with a transparent handle that would be dangerous [financially].

Suffice to say, there have been a number of threads on Pprune in recent months that [if nothing else] suggest that the Charity Commission is not doing its job at all well. In two instances the investigation of allegations about the Children's AA and London HEMS were supposed done on the phone from Liverpool. All the charity numbers and research material is here on Rotorheads - along with a great deal of abuse aimed at PANews and a few others.

I would suggest that in this instance you the operational people are just not paying attention to the detail and if you are seeing things you do not like you are turning a blind eye and leaving it to others like David Philpott and myself to kick the bleeding door in.

Yes you are not listening..... and a few others I can add...

[Flying Lawyer]

Double Bogey PAnews. I presume you are David Philpot!!!!
Your assumption is completely wrong.
PAnews is not David Philpot.

[tigerfish]

Double Bogey. I know nothing about this thread so have stayed out of it ( Its a pity that some others don't follow the same principles ). But having read your accusation that PA News is infact David Phillpott, I fell about laughing! You could not be further off beam! Totally wrong!

Tigerfish

[sweeny]

150K is surely more than Mr Cameron earns. Wonder why he needed to get more money from Airmed

[Whirlygig]

But don't forget, David Cameron has a flat in London and a wee house in the country, car with driver and subsidised canteen on top of his salary.

Cheers

Whirls

[sweeny]

So the UK is just a charity case. It comes to something when the CEO of a small charity is earning more than the PM

[Whirlygig]

I just said .... no he isn't.

Cheers

Whirls

[Bertie Thruster]

Double Bogie; Panews generally knows what he is talking about and he may well be onto something that could really be quite embarrasing for the charity side of the whole air ambulance community in the UK.

....and annoying for the tax payer.......people 'on call' for private business during NHS paid time....as Panews suggests.

[sweeny]

I wish PANews would tell all. Or is it all all spin ............PA seems to know the inside story

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Not wanting to add insult to the injury I have already caused (and meant) this is an Aviation forum, not some dish rag for journalists and the like to air their grieviences about rubbish.

One minute Philpot earns 150K, the next he does not. You cannot even tell the truth so stop wasting our time.

I stick to my principles. Earning anything like 150K when supposedly working for a charity is.....well....just uncharitable.

50K would make my eyebrows raise.

Sounds like petty office politics to me fought by petty office politicians.

There is never any smoke without fire. If Philpot was binned without cause or unjustly why does he not take the matter up with a tribunal.

Accusing other people of being on the take when you yourself are taking the charity for a ride is just two-faced.

At least the medics on call are probably proividing a service to someone.

I know if I am lying in a gutter needing emergency treatment I would far rather have an overpaid medic than an overpaid manager tending to my needs. Get some reality on board.

DB

[Bertie Thruster]

Others, further from London, don't seem to get 150k. Still good remuneration, it appears:

Air ambulance volunteers hit out at salaries paid to charity bosses - Loughborough Echo (http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/loughborough-news/2010/03/10/air-ambulance-volunteers-hit-out-at-salaries-paid-to-charity-bosses-73871-26003135/)

Air ambulance volunteers hit out at salaries paid to charity bosses
Mar 10 2010 By Matt Jarram
AIR Ambulance volunteers are intending to walk out on the charity over the amount that senior staff are paid.
Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance pay its senior mangers between £90,000 and £120,000 – an amount that volunteers feel is unacceptable.
It is also believed that the chief executive of the charity, Andy Williamson receives between £110,000 to £120,000.
A small group of volunteers and supporters called Save Our Service claim that many fund-raisers are “intending to resign in protest” as most charities pay their senior staff around £55,000.
One volunteer, who did not wish to be named, said: “People who donate their precious time and those who donate their hard-earned money do not want to see their efforts going to over-paid office staff. Some of these people are going to be earning more each year than the doctors who are out there saving lives. That’s not what we joined up to do.”
Another volunteer added: “The public need to know what their donations are being used for.”
In 2007, the County Air Ambulance – which previously provided air cover to Leicestershire – left the region after raising only £500,000 of the total £1.2m to run the service each year.
However, months later, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance said it would step in and delivery a new service from East Midlands Airport.
A spokeswoman for the Air Ambulance said: “Just a few years ago the charity was £400,000 in deficit and could have collapsed. Last year the charity raised over £5.2m and rescued thousands of people when they needed us the most.
“As with any organisation it is important that we attract the best possible personnel that have the necessary skills set and the experience to not only keep the charity running but to drive it forward to meet the modern demands of the service.
“Andy Williamson is one of the most successful charity bosses and fund-raisers in the UK.”

[sweeny]

What an eyeopener I never realised CEOs could earn so much. Was Mr P in that category and if so why would he still want more money for Airmed as Whisky suggests.....could it be greed I wonder or ??

[DauphanSpotter]

DB, whilst I agree with some aspects of your point of view - especially with regard to high salaries for not only the CEO, but various managers and fundraising teams at LAA (oh and lets not forget the various freebies subsidised by the charity monies - I would have to take you to task over a few points. "Your" daily flying time rarely amounted to more than an hours work in a day, secondly the work of some of the "administrators" made sure that funding was received year on year from the NHS (the main source of funding for LAA) and lastly, if you are who I think you are LAA didn't necessarily treat you that well either did it?

I never met Mr Philpott but understand from those have that he was a decent and fair man. But those that really know LAA (and worked there) would have to agree that perhaps he had a valid point in raising his concerns with the Charity Commission.

[FairWeatherFlyer]

I'll apologise in advance for introducing some facts into the tail end of this thread.

I don't wish to encourage further speculation, envy or questions on absolute or relative pay, but for reference purposes here's a very large UK charity (revenue around 300m GBP) who publish a salary table for above 60k in their accounts. See pdf page 61, real page 59,

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/downloads/reports/report_accounts08_09.pdf

And another with more relevance for a ppruner, page 27,

http://www.bhf.org.uk/annualreview09/BHF-Annual-Review-2009.pdf

[PANews]

No apologies for bringing this thread back to the front.

Last week the East Anglia Air Ambulance issued a press release bidding farewell to their CEO Simon Grey. He is to leave the charity at the end of January 2011 but I understand that he has already 'gone'.

He was predicted to be taking up a new role at the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA), subject to ratification at its forthcoming AGM.

Well fair to say he appeared at the AGM but because it is against the constitution for a AAA Chairman not to have a job in the industry he could not be made chairman. At the meeting he openly let it be known that he left after a disagreement over the recent award of a commercial contract for Clinical Governance with a group, EMSC Ltd., based in [east] London. The free option offered by Magpas in Cambridgeshire was sidelined.

[gregryan]

EMSC Ltd?

Gareth Davies (doctor) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gareth_Davies_(doctor))

[206 jock]

PANews,

Now I know you're a member of the press but you know (and I know that you know) that the 'free' option provided by MAGPAS isn't/wasn't 'free' as in the way that everyone else might interpret 'free'. Clearly the trustees of EAAA didn't agree with their CEO and voted to appoint a different organisation to provide their governance. I don't know them, but I doubt they went the way they did just to annoy Simon. Other charities in the vicinity also considered MAGPAS but didn't select them. and trust me, none of them are just persuaded by the magnetic personalities at EMSC.

If you have a point of view, say it. Don't hide behind innuendo and suggested hearsay. If you don't, please re-phrase your comments above.

[Skidkid]

Hasn't there been a big falling out between EAAA and MAGPAS about many things due to another "magnetic personality"?

[206 jock]

I guess some readers will be scratching their heads wondering what the real subtext of this recently revived thread is all about. A few interesting snippets that might give you some feel for the situation

Cambridge News | Latest News From In & Around Cambridge City | Latest Sports, Jobs & Business News in Cambridge Newspaper | What?s in a name as Magpas teams clash (http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Whats-in-a-name-as-Magpas-teams-clash.htm)

And

EAAA response to Magpas statement (http://www.eastanglianairambulance.org.uk/news.asp?id=145&nt=EAAA%20response%20to%20Magpas%20statement)

And I particularly like this piece:

Magpas and EAAA Part Ways | TopNews United Kingdom (http://topnews.co.uk/215474-magpas-and-eaaa-part-ways)

“We will go by road but we are going to lose patients and there will be people dying and losing their limbs and there will be people who don’t recover to a normal life as a result”.

I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.

[OvertHawk]

There is obviously a world class p!$$!ng contest going on here (Doctors offices and Charity Boards are two of the few places where you're likely to meet bigger egos than in a Pilot's crew-room) and Pprune is being used as one of the battle grounds.

I have no knowledge of either side of this over and above what i've read here (so no "knowledge" at all then!). There are, i'm sure, posts from well meaning people as well as posts from disingenuous ones.

Just remember that there are two sides to every story and i suspect that we're not seeing either truly reflected here.

OH

[PANews]

I did wonder whether to post this seperately but they are interlinked. Daviid Philpott is credited with saying the finances at HEMS Towers were under strain.....

An article published today on Helihub provides much financuial food for thought .... there is little or nothing I could add.... torpedo running ....

London’s Air Ambulance rescued by Banco Santander? | Helihub - the Helicopter Industry Data Source (http://www.helihub.com/2011/02/08/londons-air-ambulance-rescued-by-banco-santander/)

[206 jock]

Sorry PAN, maybe I am being simple, but what is your point? I can think of a few alternatives:

- That Mr.Philpott was naive in not spotting that he was joining a charity under severe financial strain? Was he duped? (I doubt this was your point)

- That he was specifically recruited to address the financial situation but then decided to concentrate on 'other matters'?(I doubt this was your point either, although it's pretty close to my understanding)

Or something else? It's pretty clear that you are a big fan of someone regularly referred to in this thread.

It may be worth referring to the very first post on this thread.....

[PANews]

Perhaps it should have been a new thread after all.

My thinking was that all the financial information relating to the Helihub article... the charity references.. the earlier declations that London HEMS 'would never be able to set up finance for a new aircraft' ... were all in this thread.

I believe that Mr.Philpott was well aware he was joining a charity under severe financial strain, indeed that was probably why he took it on as a challenge it just seems that there was a clash when the medicine was discussed [not prescribed].

As Helihub suggests, this air operation is uniquely 'challenged' when it comes to raising finance for the operation in a period when other HEMS operations are still able to find ways of making enough [and more] to support their "24/7" operation.

I need to ask myself when did I last see a Virgin HEMS collection box being jangled before me?

[FairWeatherFlyer]

The helihub article isn't a comprehensive study across the uk - the first other air ambulance accounts i looked at had a recent 9% income drop.

I can think of at least one company who has put 3.5 million per year into a healthcare based charity in the UK. I don't see anything wrong with corporate fund raising which can give lucrative, lumpy and predictable income streams.

Diversity of sources is rarely a bad thing and the fund raisers i have met at larger charities have specialists who target each type. Other air ambulances seem to do well out of (slightly ironically) legacies.

I think the article's spot-on wrt mixed blessings of Virgin association.

[FairWeatherFlyer]

Some research work on governance from 'Cass Business School and the management consultancy the Compass Partnership' that might turn out to be of interest. Out in March, apparently:

Research will look into governance of UK's 500 largest charities (http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/go/news/article/1104882/research-will-look-governance-uks-500-largest-charities/)

[PANews]

In an article in the Daily Telegraph this week it is suggested that all is well at the London Air Ambulance........

Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has ended its long standing association with the London Air Ambulance.

The Board has decided to attract a significant number of lower-level donors as it attempts to increase overall funding.

In the year to March 2010, donations from charitable fundraising were around £1M. In the current year, that figure is expected to double to £2M.

A number of City firms have signed up to sponsor the air ambulance in place of Virgin. Aberdeen Asset Management, fund manager Artemis and accountancy firm Deloitte are the majors among a number mentioned.

Increased funding might allow an improvement in its services, including the addition of a second helicopter, running multiple teams and setting up a training academy.

To coincide with the increased funding LAA are now looking to recruit the charity’s first chief executive.