Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP (Lothians) (SNP) has asked for urgent briefings from the Sick Kids Friends Foundation and NHS Lothians following revelations that £500,000 had been spent on the Foundation’s “New Pyjamas Campaign”, with only £60,000 raised for projects at the new children’s hospital being built at Little France.

Expressing shock at the huge deficit run up by the campaign, Ms Somerville said:

“We urgently need more information about how the New Pyjamas campaign got to be in this position and how the situation can be retrieved.”

“For years the Sick Kids Friends Foundation has done a wonderful job in raising millions of pounds to support children and families.  I saw that for myself when my daughter was recently a patient in the hospital.”

“A major worry is the extent to which the campaign has drained money from the foundation - £500,000 is a huge sum for an organisation that generally raises around £1.5 million per year.  I am also concerned about the effect this episode might have on future donations.  These matters need dealt with urgently so we can all get together and ensure we have a world class facility built up at Little France and that the public can have faith in donating to what is still a very worthwhile cause.”

Published - February 2010