A HOSPICE has hit back at a poison pen writer who has sent out a malicious letter making “completely untrue” claims about cash being wasted.

Havens Hospices - which runs Fair Havens in Westcliff and Little Havens in Thundersley, have taken the rare step of speaking out about the letter to make it clear the claims are wrong, misinformed and potentially undermine the charity.

The letter - handed to Havens Hospices trustees and others, likens chief executive Andy Smith to the boss of disgraced charity Kids Company, Camilla Batmanghelidjh who is accused of mismanagement.

The hospice has today spoken out to tackle the claims head-on, issuing a robust, comprehensive statement to tackle the points made in the letter.

Mr Smith said: “We are aware that an anonymous letter has been sent to our trustees and the local media, and are saddened that it appears someone from within the charity has chosen to do this.

“The allegations are completely untrue. We welcome the passion the writer shows for hospice care but they are misinformed, and this undermines our well-loved local charity, the phenomenal care and support that our patients and their families rely on, and the staff and volunteers who devote their time in giving it.”

The writer criticises the charity’s recruitment policy and claims it used headhunters to appoint two new directors who are bent on cost cutting at the expense of patient care.

The letter claims the hospice has seen costs increasing £2.5m a year.

Oddly, the writer cites the denial of cakes and biscuits to patients as proof of cost cutting.

In a vitriolic, personal attack on Mr Smith, the faceless author of the letter calls him a “megalomaniac” who against the wishes of donors, is building a new hospice as a “monument” to his tenure at the hospice before he retires.

Mr Smith said: “For us hospice care is about directing support to those who most need it. As a charity, we are always mindful of how much things cost. Even the smallest of things are worth reviewing if it improves care for patients, or helps us use money better.

“Relatives and visitors are greeted by someone welcoming them to the hospice and offering them care and support, which, of course, includes a cup of tea and piece of cake or a biscuit.”

Answering allegation on financial mismanagement, Mr Smith said: “Our decisions are not made solely on spending less. It is about making sure the money – given to us in good faith – can have the greatest impact, because our staff and volunteers are all here for the same reason - to support and care for those who need us.

“The hospices are unique in that we are the only place in the area wholly dedicated to caring for people at the end of their lives.”

THE TRUTH:

IN the interest of openness the hospice has answered individual criticisms in the letter

Q: Have biscuits and cakes for patients and families been removed?

A: The Charity has not removed snacks for patients and families. Rather than in the communal lounge/reception area, we have discussed moving them into the bedrooms so they’re easier to access for patients, or available directly from our kitchens, as you would at home.

Q: Did the hospice employ expensive recruitment headhunters?

A: For some key posts we will ask recruitment agencies to help us find the right people. But in the case of our two most recent recruitments for our director of care and director of facilities at New Fair Havens, they both heard about the vacancies via word of mouth and had no contact with recruitment agencies; therefore no recruitment fee was paid to an external agency.

Our Director of Care, Helen Forster, has extensive knowledge having commissioned children’s palliative care through her role in the Clinical Commissioning Group, and was Chair of Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children’s Palliative Care Network. We are proud to attract people like Helen to work at Havens Hospices who bring a wealth of experience that can only benefit those we care for.

Q: Has expenditure increased A: Our total expenditure has increased over the last five years but by under half the £2.5 million year on year claimed. Within this, spend has increased on our care services across both hospices, especially as we see a rise in the number of people who need our care, and the complexity of their conditions.

For example: Possum technology in rooms at Fair Havens and Little Havens, giving patients more control and independence over their environment and new “Managed Care Service” to enable patients in hospital approaching the end of the lives to be cared for at home Q: Has there been an Increase in pen pushers?

A: 75 per cent of the people who work at Havens Hospices are volunteers, who give their time for free. In fact, across our support staff in HR, finance and executive ream, we now have 9 per cent less paid staff than we did five years ago.

We are proud of the robustness of our ‘governance’ which ensures that we are a professionally run charity that supporters, patients and families trust. Our board of trustees are all unpaid volunteers and bring with them a wealth of experience in finance, management, medical care and fundraising. Although the day-to-day matters are dealt with by our Directors and team managers, it is the Trustees who hold overall responsibility for the charity.

Q: Are donation being used to build the New Fair Havens?

A: The only money used for new Fair Havens so far are those that have been designated for this purpose or restricted by the donors themselves.