In a concerning incident, the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has come under fire for using charitable funds to organise a farewell party for its former chairman, Paul Devlin. The trust, which has faced recent scrutiny over its handling of mental health services, has been forced to apologise for this inappropriate use of charitable resources.
Chief Executive Ifti Majid acknowledged the mistake, stating in correspondence to staff that “this was not a good use of charitable funds.” The trust reportedly used £249.50 from its charitable operations to help organise the event in December, which was held to mark Devlin’s departure after two three-year terms as chairman.
The revelation comes at a difficult time for the trust, which has been the subject of criticism following a damning 2024 report that highlighted “gross, systemic failures” in its mental health services. This was further compounded by the trust’s involvement in the care of Valdo Calocane, the paranoid schizophrenic who carried out the tragic Nottingham attacks in June 2023, which left three people dead.
In a statement, Majid apologised again and described the use of charitable funds as a “mistake,” confirming that the full amount has been repaid. He explained that the intention was to hold an “open staff and partner leaving event” that would be attended by colleagues from across the organisation, as well as local healthcare partners.
However, Majid acknowledged that, “in hindsight,” this was not an appropriate use of the charitable funds, which are currently being raised to support therapies for the trust’s mother and baby unit and peer support work for people living with dementia.
The news comes on the heels of a recent Care Quality Commission report, which found that the trust’s leadership “requires improvement.” The report also highlighted a “challenged” financial picture, with a forecast deficit of £46.8m by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.
This latest incident has undoubtedly added to the trust’s woes, with staff expressing their frustration. Majid has pledged to “clarify the rules” around the use of charitable funds and has said the executive team will personally reimburse the full amount spent on the leaving party.
As the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust continues to navigate these challenging times, it will be crucial for the organisation to regain the trust of both its staff and the wider community it serves.