Nottinghamshire NHS trust used charity funds for leaving party

An NHS trust under fire has apologized after using money from charitable funds to throw a going away party for its former chairman.

Money from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s charitable operations was requested and used to help organize the event in December for former chairman Paul Devlin, who left the trust earlier this month.

The mental health trust was involved in the care of Valdo Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic who killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates during the Nottingham attacks in June 2023.

In correspondence to staff seen by the BBC, director general Ifti Majid apologized and said: “I accept that this was not a good use of charitable funds.”

In a statement to the BBC, Majid apologized again and said the use of the money was a “mistake” and that the sum had been returned to the charity.

Devlin, who took office in 2020, served two three-year terms as president and handed over the reins to Tom Cahill earlier this month.

It is understood the trust used £249.50 from the charity, which is currently raising money for therapies for the mother and baby unit and peer support work for people with dementia.

The news follows a recent report from the Care Quality Commission, which said the trust’s leadership “requires improvement”.

Inspectors also found a “challenging” financial situation at the trust, with a forecast deficit of £46.8 million at the end of the 2025-26 financial year.

It follows a damning 2024 report, which families of victims of the Nottingham attacks said demonstrated “gross and systemic failures in the mental health trust”.

In January 2024, it was reported that more than 30 members of staff at the trust had been suspended.

Majid had planned to retire from the trust on his 60th birthday in October, but the trust previously said he would remain in post for the public inquiry hearings into the Nottingham bombings before leaving in June.

“We used charitable funds to fund an open staff and partner departure event, to which many clinical and non-clinical colleagues from across the organization, as well as local healthcare partners, were invited,” he said in a message to staff.

“Looking back, I listened to everything you said and clarified the rules on this, and I admit it was not a good use of charitable funds.

“The executive team is personally refunding the entire amount on behalf of everyone who participated.

“I am grateful to my colleagues who have spoken out about this, I can completely understand your frustrations and I would like to apologize.”