Government Climbdown on NHS Charities Welcomed by Mulholland

12.00.00am GMT Mon 8th Feb 2010

Commenting on the announcement today that the Treasury has backed down on plans to nationalise donations made to NHS charities, which could have resulted in hospital budgets being slashed, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Spokesperson and founding member of the Support Wharfedale Hospital Greg Mulholland Said:

"This climb-down is extremely welcome and a victory for common sense.

"After 18 months of burying their head in the sand, the Government seems to be finally listening.

"Consolidating charitable funds into the accounts of NHS bodies would have completely undermined the independence of those charities and the confidence of donors.

"Charities which are vital to local hospitals such as the Wharfedale Hospital would have been damaged almost irretrievably.

"There must be transparency for donors about exactly where their money is going."