Funding of Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust staff awards clarified

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has clarified how its staff awards have been funded.

A spokesperson for the Trust said: "The majority of our 2015 event in November was again paid for through external sponsorship but to ensure we did not use taxpayers money, and to meet a budget shortfall, our charitable funds committee approved £16,000 to go towards the event.

"This is money that the Trust receives from donations and legacies from patients and relatives to thank staff and to invest in staff training and events.

"The Trust receives approximately half a million pounds in donations and legacies each year.

"This money is either allocated for specific projects or to buy equipment or to support or thank our staff. This is separate to our charity appeals.

"Last year the Trust received around half a million pounds in charitable donations and fundraising from patients and their relatives. The money is spent on new hospital equipment, staff education, research and events. This year the Trust charity will spend £400,000 on new specialist profiling hospital beds to prevent pressure ulcers."