The main hospital trust in Brighton and Hove has taken the contract for cleaning and catering back in-house from today.
The contract – for soft facilities management services – was awarded to Sodexo in December 2012 for five years. It was worth £15 million a year.
It also included porters and housekeepers at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and other hospitals run by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH).
Complaints about non-payment of wages and the quality of food and cleaning were being dealt with at board level by the trust before the decision was taken to take back the contract.
The trust said: “The services previously run by the external company Sodexo are now being managed in-house and the 650 staff involved have been fully integrated into the trust.
“Significant investment has been made in new equipment such as ward drinks trolleys and wheelchairs and dozens of new items of cleaning equipment.
“The staff are also wearing new uniforms, which are colour-coded depending on their role.”
Trust chief executive Matthew Kershaw said: “I am really pleased to welcome our soft FM colleagues as full members of the BSUH team.
“For many patients, these staff are just as important to their care as the doctors and nurses.
“A friendly porter getting somebody to the right place makes a real difference. A well presented meal is more likely to be eaten. And the cleanliness of our hospitals inside and out is vital to safe care.”
Brighton hospital trust takes cleaning and catering back in-house from private contactor today
The main hospital trust in Brighton and Hove has taken the contract for cleaning and catering back in-house from today.
The contract – for soft facilities management services – was awarded to Sodexo from December 2012 for five years.
It also included porters and housekeepers at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and other hospitals run by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH).
Complaints about food and cleaning were being dealt with t board level by the trust before the decision was taken to take back the contract.
The trust said: “The services previously run by the external company Sodexo are now being managed in-house and the 650 staff involved have been fully integrated into the trust.
“Significant investment has been made in new equipment such as ward drinks trolleys and wheelchairs and dozens of new items of cleaning equipment.
“The staff are also wearing new uniforms, which are colour-coded depending on their role.”
Trust chief executive Matthew Kershaw said: “I am really pleased to welcome our soft FM colleagues as full members of the BSUH team.
“For many patients, these staff are just as important to their care as the doctors and nurses.
“A friendly porter getting somebody to the right place makes a real difference. A well presented meal is more likely to be eaten. And the cleanliness of our hospitals inside and out is vital to safe care.”
I am so pleased that the Cleaning/Domestic Services are now being provided in-house by the Hospital. At last a very good change, yes they are as important as our Medical Staff. Now hopefully MRSA can begin to be eliminated from Hospitals, by having good Routine Cleaning done daily before Sterile dressings/treatments are carried out. Training is very essential to Cleaners to prevent cross infection through out the Hospital. Well done Brighton NHS.