16th May 2006 15:00
Serco to provide facilities management at new PFI hospital16 May 2006Serco Group plc ("Serco") today announces that it has been selected to providesupport services for the new NHS Forth Valley Acute Hospital alongside Equion.Equion, a division of John Laing plc, has been appointed by NHS Forth Valley todesign, build, finance and operate the new PFI hospital at Larbert. Serco'scontract is valued at around ‚£450m over 30 years. Services will begin on thenew site in summer 2009, with the first patients arriving in autumn 2009.Serco has drawn on its healthcare experience to influence the design of the newhospital, thereby enhancing management of infection control. Innovationsinclude segregation of patient, visitor and goods traffic as well as theintroduction of proven robotic technology to support the movement of goodsaround the hospital site.The new hospital will have around 800 inpatient and day spaces and will providethe full range of district general hospital services. Serco will support NHSForth Valley in ensuring the highest quality healthcare by providinginnovative, efficient support services. These will include ward housekeeping,portering, catering, switchboard, utilities management, reception, wastemanagement, linen, security, car parking and grounds maintenance.NHS Forth Valley Chairman, Ian Mullen OBE said: "By 2009 the people of ForthValley will have a new, state-of-the-art hospital. The new hospital will be akey strategic asset for the NHS in Scotland. Today's announcement is a key stepin our journey to provide modern patient focused health services."Christopher Hyman, Serco Group Chief Executive said: "We are delighted to havethis opportunity to work with the NHS and Equion to improve healthcare servicesin the Forth Valley. Focussing on patients, we will work together with doctors,nurses and managers to create a hospital of which the local community can beproud."Innovative design will allow built-in systems to take care of deliveringsupplies, equipment and laundry, while our portering team will concentrate,with their clinical colleagues, on the needs of patients. This will alsoprovide a better environment for infection control."Serco already provides facilities management services at Wishaw Hospital inLanarkshire, as well as at hospitals in Leicester and Norwich in England. Sercoalso provides primary healthcare services including out-of-hours medicalresponse for over a million people in Cardiff, Cornwall and Oxfordshire.Elsewhere in Scotland, Serco has over 1100 employees, providing a range ofpublic services including HM Prison Kilmarnock, marine support for the RoyalNavy on the Clyde, and real-time information system for Glasgow's buspassengers.(End)Notes to EditorsSerco is an international service company which combines commercial know-howwith a deep public service ethos.Serco improves services by managing people, processes, technology and assetsmore effectively in the health, education, home affairs, local government,science, technology, defence, transport and commercial sectors, in 37countries.Serco advises policy makers, designs innovative solutions, integrates systemsand delivers to the public. More information can be found at www.serco.com.For further information please contact Serco:T +44 (0) 1256 745 900Richard Hollins, Head of Investor RelationsGraham Capper, Head of Media and Public RelationsDominic Cheetham, Director of Corporate CommunicationsENDSERCO GROUP PLCRelated Shares:
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