Hospital cuts links with firm in waste parts row

HUDDERSFIELD hospital chiefs have confirmed they are one of 15 hospital trusts to scrap their contract with the firm at the centre of a bio-waste disposal controversy.

Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) is alleged to have stored five times its limit – 350 tonnes – of human waste from hospitals, including amputated body parts, infectious liquids, cytotoxic waste linked to cancer treatment and hazardous pharmaceutical waste.

HES has denied stockpiling hundreds of tonnes of human body parts and dangerous waste at any of its UK sites, which include one at Normanton, near Wakefield.

HES admitted the level of waste at Normanton had “reached a level where we have had to look at alternative storage.” But it added it was “working closely with stakeholders and other waste management companies to rectify this issue.”

But on Tuesday, it was revealed that numerous hospital trusts had abandoned their deals with the firm.

A spokesperson for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust confirmed they were one of those.

They said they had begun a new contract with Mitie and the service change would not affect patients at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

HES issued an angry statement to the media late on Tuesday, dubbing the move as “excessive and counter-productive” and claiming it could lead to waste disposal standards being compromised with potential risk to public health.

It also warned that the UK’s medical waste backlog could get worse because of the 15 trusts’ decisions.

The company said the decision would lead to waste being transported hundreds of miles to other regions, at a greater risk, when its specialised vehicles and drivers were ready and willing to assist.

Managing director Garry Pettigrew said: “Our plants around the UK are continuing to store and process medical waste safely and securely to clear any backlog.

“As we have stressed since the outset, there is a proven lack of incineration capacity within the UK, which is affecting all operators.

“The decision of 15 NHS Trusts to serve us termination notices is excessive and counter-productive and will only cause further issues. We are currently discussing next steps with our legal advisers.”