from The Christian Institute
The NHS has come under fire for providing almost £2 million towards staff events, some of which promoted LGBT causes.
According to Freedom of Information requests from the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA), more than 1,000 events were held by a variety of staff networks at 80 trusts between 2022-24. Overall, £1,834,005.60 was given in funding, but it is unknown how much was spent.
NHS staff attended events including ‘Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling’ at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, and ‘pride crafting’ at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Taxpayer money
Joanna Marchong, Investigations Campaign Manager at TPA, said: “Taxpayers will be dismayed to see NHS trusts pouring more money into staff networks year after year, while waiting lists spiral and junior doctors strike over pay.”
An NHS spokesman stated: “Many staff events – including ones highlighted here – are run at no or very low cost, but where employers do invest in staff it is important that care is taken to ensure it represents good value for taxpayers’ money.”