Mitie has been awarded a multi-service facilities management contract with West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust following a competitive tender process. The new contract which is worth £55m over a five-year term with an optional extension of a further two years.
Mitie will provide a range of services including cleaning, catering, portering, pest control, linen and helpdesk services. These will be supported across the three main hospital sites, Watford General Hospital, St Albans City Hospital and Hemel Hempstead Hospital, as well as the new physiotherapy outpatient unit in Abbotts Langley. This new contract builds on Mitie’s existing portfolio of NHS clients.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services for people from across Hertfordshire, North London and further afield, as well as a range of more specialist services, for nearly one million patients a year.
Under the contract, which started on 1 April 2018, 400 people are transferring to Mitie from the current service provider. Many of these employees will benefit from a pay increase as all staff will receive at least the Real Living Wage, as well as a range of Mitie rewards which include staff discounts.
Mitie will be investing in new technology as part of the contract. New digital software will enable the helpdesk to communicate more effectively across the four sites allowing the Trust to offer more efficient services to patients. For example, staff can place their cleaning or portering requests through touch pads on wards. Once phased in, the touch pads will link directly to the helpdesk. Patients will also benefit from the latest in meal delivery with the introduction of a new heating and chilling unit which allows easy preparation of personalised menu choices for patients.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust will also be welcoming ‘Moptimus Prime’ to the team, the next generation in robot cleaning. This will be the second roll-out of its kind with the first model making its debut at Hinchingbrooke Hospital last year. Moptimus Prime uses a mapping system to guide it round the hospital, completing pre-programmed cleaning duties and freeing up staff to focus on more complex tasks. Fitted with a motion sensor, it is also able to detect if people are in front of it and stop moving.
The robotic scrubber-dryer uses ultraviolet technology to eliminate 99.9 per cent of viruses and bacteria, and its advanced purification and recycling system can save up to 26,000 litres of water and chemicals associated with manually operated auto-scrubbers.
Jacinto Jesus, Director of Healthcare, Mitie said:
“We are proud to be partnering with West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Drawing on our extensive experience, expertise and industry innovation, we look forward to introducing our new technology to support the great work the Trust does in delivering the best quality care for its patients every day.”
Patrick Hennessy, Director of Environment at West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
"We look forward to a long and close collaboration with Mitie who will enhance the Trust's facilities management services for the benefit of patients and staff. The partnership will provide a new catering option for patients and there will be improved restaurant services for staff and visitors too. Staff who have transferred from the previous service provider will also benefit from receiving the Real Living Wage."
Notes to editors
About Mitie
Founded in 1987, Mitie is the UK’s leading facilities management and professional services company. We offer a range of specialist services including Security, Engineering Services, Catering, Cleaning, Pest Control, Landscaping, Energy and Property Consultancy, Property Maintenance, and Custody Support Services.
Mitie employs 53,000 people across the country, looking after a large, diverse, blue-chip customer base, from banks and retailers, to hospitals, schools and government offices. We take care of our customers’ people and buildings, by delivering the basics brilliantly and by deploying advanced technology. We are pioneers in the Connected Workspace, using smart analytics to provide valuable insight and deliver efficiencies to create outstanding work environments for customers.
