I want to know about Special Purpose Funds

These funds may be to say ‘Thank you’ for the care of a loved one on a ward or to support a particular type of research.

Team members can apply for a Special Purpose Fund to drive improvements and help build a better future of healthcare at Guy’s and St Thomas’.

How do Special Purpose Funds work?

Each Special Purpose Fund has a fundholder and deputy fundholders who are responsible for planning how to spend the donations we receive.

Special Purpose Funds are usually highly restricted. We work closely with the fundholders to ensure that they are managed carefully and provide the maximum possible benefit for patients and staff.

What are Special Purpose Funds used for?

The funds are used to support a range of activities over and above that which is usually available on NHS budgets.

This could include investment in education, patient care, equipment, research, and staff wellbeing across the different wards, clinics and departments in the Trust’s acute hospital and community sites.

Recently, fundholders have been prioritising spending on projects that support staff morale and wellbeing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How do Special Purpose Funds work?

Special Purpose Funds rely entirely on donations from patients, staff and members of the public. There are around 200 funds of varying sizes and purposes.

In 2020-21, c.£4.9m was disbursed through Special Purpose Funds, directly benefiting both patient and staff welfare by going beyond what the NHS can provide.

If you’re a fundholder, we’ll ask you to prepare an annual spending plan to tell us how you intend to spend donated funds.