Dismissal at London HEMS
Air ambulance chief sacked after he raised financial concerns - Telegraph
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
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.
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
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.
Last edited by Bravo73; 1st Dec 2009 at 19:57. Reason: Thank you, Splot/Heliport (I think!)
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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.
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.
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Gregryan
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)
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)
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bit rich
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!
'Princess Pushy' sounded like something from a swingers site! Why not 'PA news 2' instead!
Thread Starter
Whisky..... you drunk?
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.
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.
Thread Starter
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
Not very exciting but it does show that the danger signs surrounding this row are perhaps dawning on some.
Civil Society - Governance - News | 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 | 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.
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.
Thread Starter
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.
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.
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?
What with the Olympics coming up perhaps the Government will be looking to fully fund the London Air Ambulance?
Thread Starter
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.
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.
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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.
greenacres.
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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....
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....
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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???
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???
Thread Starter
Reply from the Charity Commission
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.
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.
Last edited by PANews; 18th Jan 2010 at 09:20. Reason: typo
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.
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.
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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?
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?
Thread Starter
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.
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.