Serco wins £125m contract with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Serco has won a £125m contract with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust to provide catering and cleaning services at Southampton General Hospital and Princess Anne Hospital.

The 10-year contract will see Serco implement an expanded choice of patient menu options; tailored meals to support nutritionally vulnerable patients; refurbishment of hospital restaurants and investment in new catering equipment; new healthy retail catering options for visitors and staff including a deli and a ‘health bar' offering ‘build-your-own' smoothies and juices; and the creation of a specialist cleaning training centre.

Serco's responsibility for patient catering, retail catering and cleaning began at the beginning of June when the 500 permanent staff of previous service provider Medirest transferred to Serco.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust provides services to 1.9 million people living in Southampton and south Hampshire, as well as specialist services such as neurosciences, cardiac services and children's intensive care to more than 3.7 million people in central southern England and the Channel Islands.

Serco was chosen by the Trust against criteria which prioritised patient experience and service quality.

Ian Crichton, Serco's managing director, health, said: "We are passionate about creating a better hospital environment for patients, their families and staff, and we know that the quality and variety of the dining options plays a really crucial role. By providing patients with a wide choice of tasty meals tailored to their individual nutritional needs, we can support their recovery while at the same time hopefully brightening up their day."

Fiona Dalton, chief executive, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity and we look forward to working with Serco as they deliver a range of changes and innovations to help improve the experience of patients throughout our hospitals."

Serco also provides facilities management at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. In December 2016, it was awarded a contract to provide soft facilities management services to Barts Health, England's largest NHS Trust.

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