Interserve launched a cleaning and clinical waste disposal service at a hotel for homeless people and is running the contract at cost as part of the company’s contribution to the COVID-19 response.
The hotel cares for people living on the streets who have COVID-19 symptoms. They are tested and if found to have the virus are given residential care for free for the time that will be needed prior to release back into the community. The hotel is being run by partners including the City Hall, Thames Reach, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust (UCLH), Doctors Without Borders and Interserve.
Interserve provides the facilities management (FM) contract for UCLH and because of the company’s expertise was invited to deliver services at the hotel, which had already opened its doors to the homeless.
Jesus Ramirez, Interserve’s Head of Soft Services at UCLH, visited the hotel on Friday 17th April and in his own time during the weekend to make sure everything was set up and ready to start on Monday 20th April after hearing about the need for help.
He said: “It was a humbling experience. The doctors are inspirational and so incredibly caring and given the fact the service was already up and running they desperately needed professional FM support.
“I am proud that Interserve was able to begin delivering services within the weekend and with a really short notice and that we are doing that at cost. It’s not about profit, it’s about people”
“Because some of the rooms are used by people with COVID-19 and waste needs to be properly disposed and all the surfaces need to be meticulously cleaned, we needed to get the best possible team on the job straight away.” Jesus Ramirez personally ensured the right cleaning equipment was in place and the Personnel Protective Equipment is provided by the medical service. A team of four colleagues work on the contract.
He said: “They are an incredible team. Going into work in challenging circumstances takes guts. They know the job needs doing and they are tremendous.
“The doctors are also superb. They have told our staff to always come to them if they ever need any support or advice making sure they are safe at work and everyone involved at the hotel works as a single team.”
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, said: “I want to thank Interserve on behalf of myself and the Mayor for the high-quality clinical cleaning service the company is delivering at cost price to our hotel that is accommodating homeless COVID-19 patients.
“This project is enabling us to protect rough sleepers during this pandemic as they are significantly more likely to have underlying health conditions, including respiratory problems, than the wider population. It is hugely important work, made possible by partnerships with organisations such as Interserve who are willing to pitch in during this difficult time.”
The hotel cares for people living on the streets who have COVID-19 symptoms. They are tested and if found to have the virus are given residential care for free for the time that will be needed prior to release back into the community. The hotel is being run by partners including the City Hall, Thames Reach, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust (UCLH), Doctors Without Borders and Interserve.
Interserve provides the facilities management (FM) contract for UCLH and because of the company’s expertise was invited to deliver services at the hotel, which had already opened its doors to the homeless.
Jesus Ramirez, Interserve’s Head of Soft Services at UCLH, visited the hotel on Friday 17th April and in his own time during the weekend to make sure everything was set up and ready to start on Monday 20th April after hearing about the need for help.
He said: “It was a humbling experience. The doctors are inspirational and so incredibly caring and given the fact the service was already up and running they desperately needed professional FM support.
“I am proud that Interserve was able to begin delivering services within the weekend and with a really short notice and that we are doing that at cost. It’s not about profit, it’s about people”
“Because some of the rooms are used by people with COVID-19 and waste needs to be properly disposed and all the surfaces need to be meticulously cleaned, we needed to get the best possible team on the job straight away.” Jesus Ramirez personally ensured the right cleaning equipment was in place and the Personnel Protective Equipment is provided by the medical service. A team of four colleagues work on the contract.
He said: “They are an incredible team. Going into work in challenging circumstances takes guts. They know the job needs doing and they are tremendous.
“The doctors are also superb. They have told our staff to always come to them if they ever need any support or advice making sure they are safe at work and everyone involved at the hotel works as a single team.”
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, said: “I want to thank Interserve on behalf of myself and the Mayor for the high-quality clinical cleaning service the company is delivering at cost price to our hotel that is accommodating homeless COVID-19 patients.
“This project is enabling us to protect rough sleepers during this pandemic as they are significantly more likely to have underlying health conditions, including respiratory problems, than the wider population. It is hugely important work, made possible by partnerships with organisations such as Interserve who are willing to pitch in during this difficult time.”