NHS contracts ripped up over body parts scandal

BY SALLY HIND s.hind@dailyrecord.co.uk profit last year. Health Minister Stephen Barclay told MPs yesterday that 15 NHS trusts had served termination notices to the firm after a report said they had “failed to demonstrate they were operating within their contractual limits”.

Barclay said: “We are ensuring there are contingency plans in place in case of any disruption and that there is absolutely no risk to the health of patients or the wider public.”

Earlier this month, it emerged large amounts of human waste, including amputated limbs and infectious liquids, had built up at HES’s five sites in England.

Barclay added: “On July 31, the Environment Agency notified the Government of an issue concerning clinical waste collection and disposal for hospitals and other public services provided by HES.

“In this instance, the primary concern was that too much waste was being held in a number of waste storage and treatment sites.

“It was not being processed and disposed of within the correct regulatory timescales. At no point has there been an impact on public health.”

He told MPs the affected NHS trusts had negotiated a new contract with Mitie “to step in and replace this service”.

That contract was “operational” from Monday morning.