– We have today made a decision and informed the Association for Children’s Palliative Care that they must pay back NOK 4.2 million. The requirement is linked to clearly incorrect use of funds, says section leader Elise Husum in the Directorate of Health to news. The association for children’s palliation (FFB) is behind the Andreas Hus children’s hospice in Kristiansand and has received NOK 90 million from the state over the past three years. It was the directorate that launched a comprehensive investigation of the association’s finances last autumn. A month ago, the conclusion came. In the more than one hundred page long report, questions were raised about the use of just over NOK 20 million from the state. Several objectionable findings were also pointed out. Among other things, the association is said to have spent just over NOK 16 million on PR, marketing, advertising and consultants. When the report came out, the Directorate of Health notified the association that they would claim back part of the grant they have received over the past three years. Husum stated to news that she assumed they ended up at a “two-digit number of millions”. Now they have instead decided that the association must pay back 4.2 million. – Why have you reduced the amount? – We are waiting to reclaim approximately 9 million, which are estimated unused funds for 2022. The reason why we are considering letting them keep unused funds after applying to us is that the new board shows a willingness to clean up, says Husum. Director of Department in the Directorate of Health Elise Husum. Photo: Directorate of Health Gabrielsen satisfied Chairman of the Association for Children’s Palliative Care Ansgar Gabrielsen tells news that he is satisfied with the Directorate of Health’s decision. – Both employees and the board have done their utmost to keep as much of these funds as possible in Kristiansand and I think we are succeeding in that, says Gabrielsen. He believes that the association will be able to keep the remaining unused funds of NOK 9 million. – The starting point is that they have allocated for the purpose and as long as we can document that the money will be used for the purpose, we should all come out of this all right. The association will now enter into dialogue with Kristiansand municipality to find out how the premises can be used for the target group. By 1 April, they must submit an application to the Norwegian Directorate of Health to transfer unused funds. Department director Husum says they are positive about the commitment from the association’s new board. – We are happy to discuss various solution options within the framework of the Storting’s grant allocation. It will be in everyone’s best interest if the investments that have already been made can be used to the greatest extent possible for the benefit of the target group, says Husum. Managing director at Andreas Hus Børre Nedrejord Rakstang and chairman of FFB Ansgar Gabrielsen. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news Finish education Gabrielsen says that the association will enter into a dialogue with Kristiansand municipality. According to him, they have been given until 1 April to submit an application to the Directorate of Health. In a board meeting last week, the association’s board decided to dismiss the 13 employees who work at Andreas Hus. They also decided that the apartment that the association owns in the center of Kristiansand should be sold. The employees will continue their education in pediatric palliation until the summer as planned. This education has already been paid for. It is also clear that the name of the building, which is today Andreas Hus, will be changed. The house is named after the daughter of former Secretary General Natasha Pedersen. – We will comply with her wish not to keep the name, Gabrielsen told news following the board meeting on Thursday 9 January. The employment of general secretary and founder Natasha Pedersen ended on 20 January.
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The association for child palliation must repay the Directorate of Health 4.2 million – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
