Dismissal at London HEMS
Thread Starter
Dismissal at London HEMS
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?
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?
Red On, Green On
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He wasn't there very long - he left Kent in August this year, according to this article.
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Does this clarify things !!!!!!!! Ps good luck to David
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.
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.
Thread Starter
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
The charity is number 801013
Charity Commission Homepage
The charity is number 801013
Last edited by PANews; 20th Nov 2009 at 19:36. Reason: Typo
Thread Starter
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....
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....
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Thanks for the PM and posts answering my points!
Last edited by airmail; 22nd Nov 2009 at 09:59. Reason: Edited as proof that I can't do internet searches properly!
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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
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
There are no limits
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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
Hovering AND talking
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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
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
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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.
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.
Thread Starter
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.
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.
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
But I agree: instinctively it doesn't sit well in a charitable organisation
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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
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
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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
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
Thread Starter
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.
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.
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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.
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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
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