The enforced liquidation of UK multinational facilities management and construction services company Carillion has cast a shadow over catering services in hospitals. Carillion was contracted to provide soft (catering and cleaning) and hard (building maintenance) services at 14 NHS Trusts. Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) chairman Stewart McKenzie said, “We understand that Carillion’s healthcare portfolio was responsible for preparing more than 18,500 patient meals per day. “Alongside that, buildings they were responsible for included 200 operating theatres, 300 critical care beds and just under 11,500 in-patient beds. They were also responsible for the new, under construction Royal Liverpool Hospital. “We recognise that interruption to the level of service provided can have a significant impact on our patients, staff and visitors, therefore the HCA encourages our members or any hospital caterer that has been affected by Monday’s announcement to get in touch if they would like to discuss concerns regarding the safe and continuous delivery of hospital patient meals.” An NHS spokesman added, “We have had staff deployed to the six biggest hospital sites to offer assistance, but the vast majority of Carillion staff have turned up to work as normal. All NHS sites remain open and operating as planned. “While the NHS isn’t a particularly large customer of Carillion, we have a duty to maintain safe, high quality services for our patients. That’s why we’ve been working with trusts and with private sector providers to have extensive contingency plans in place. “That these plans have worked well is a tribute to the tireless work by NHS staff and by staff employed by Carillion, who have put huge amounts of effort in at what is a very difficult time for them.” (source: LACA)