The Royal Sussex’s housekeeping, catering, cleaning and porter service is to be taken in-house again weeks after a union raised concerns about safety.
Staff currently working for Sodexo at the Brighton hospital will transfer to the Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust over the following months, with the service handed over by the end of July.
The five-year contract, which started in December 2013 is said to have ended early by mutual consent because of “changed priorities”.
Last month, the GMB union said building works, lack of equipment and staff shortages were posing serious challenges to transporting patients and cleaning which could have had “serious implications” for patient safety, and said staff were considering industrial action.
Gary Palmer, GMB organiser said: “We have always been clear from day one that we wanted to see all services provided by Sodexo returned in house and to the NHS where they should be.
“Over the next few months we will be working hard to protect all transferees during any transfer process and we will be pressing the trust to end both the current two tier workforce approach and place all staff under AfC terms and conditions as a minimum and to reduce through the creation of the options of real full time equivalent jobs to any of the current numbers of casual and zero hour staff should they wish to remain working at the Trust.
“We will be arranging to meet with members and concerned staff over the coming months to ensure their best interests are maintain throughout the process and that any specific concerns are answered.”
Matthew Kershaw, Chief Executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals said: “A transfer of this size and complexity is a huge undertaking and there will inevitably be some challenges along the way but we are going to work very hard to ensure the transition is as smooth and well-managed as possible.
“It is though the right thing to do, at this point in time, for everyone involved and for the organisation as a whole.
“We need to explore any lessons which can be learned from the outsourcing this contract to Sodexo and we will also ensure there are plenty of opportunities for our own staff and those who currently work for Sodexo to input their thoughts and ideas on how we provide these services going forward in the best way for our patients.”
Greg Austin, HR director for Sodexo’s healthcare division, said: “We are working closely with BSUH to ensure a smooth transition of services. Employees have been informed of the decision and will be communicated and consulted with appropriately.
“We would like to thank our staff for their hard work and commitment and we are confident that the patient will continue to remain a key focus during the transition of services.”
