A Facilities Management (FM) contract by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) has gone to Mitie. The £11.8 m deal covers King George Hospital and four associated sites: Fanshawe Health Centre, Bates Industrial Estate, South Street, and Lyon Road. Services cover patient dining, cleaning, reception, security, waste management, pest control, helpdesk, and shuttle buses between King George and Queen’s Hospital.
The FM firm points to its smart portering technology which uses AI-driven task management and smartphone-based location tracking to streamline the transportation process. A trial at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle led to a 58 per cent reduction in task response times, a 65pc decrease in the time that porter tasks took, and cleaning tasks more than tripling, the firm reports. Mitie adds that it will introduce tech-based catering services. Such as, a tablet at the bedside will allow patients to choose meals, rather than paper menus or verbal orders; and a click-and-collect coffee cart. Mitie will create six new jobs in the first year for people not in employment, education or training; and will also provide seven apprenticeship opportunities each year and support volunteering, including 128 hours for career mentoring locally, 80 hours of visits to schools, colleges and universities, providing insight into career opportunities in Facilities Management, and 122 hours of support for healthcare-related charities such as the King George Hospital Charity.
Mike Gibson, Managing Director, Healthcare and Education at Mitie, said: “We’re proud to be partnering with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver a modern, technology-led FM service. From intelligent portering systems that free up clinical time, to click-and-collect catering, we’re making the experience better for patients, visitors and hospital staff.
“We’re also investing in the local community, creating new jobs for people not currently in work or education, offering apprenticeships, and supporting local charities and schools through mentoring and volunteering. It’s about making a real, lasting difference within the Trust’s community.”
And Sean Greene, Director of Estates and Facilities at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We worked hard with clinical and non-clinical colleagues ahead of awarding our facilities management contracts to ensure we got commitments which would mean something to us and provide real benefit for our communities, such as employing local people. It’s great that our ongoing partnership with Mitie will not only benefit our patients, but also local residents.”
