Healthcare Environmental Services Goes Into Liquidation

Clinical waste firm Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) has gone into liquidation, according to reports by BBC News.

Accountants BDO have been appointed to the Lanarkshire-based company, which lost multi-million pound contracts with NHS Scotland and 17 trusts in England following a criminal investigation into the stockpiling of clinical waste.

HES had managed all of Scotland’s clinical waste disposal before it was embroiled in the waste stockpiling scandal.

Leaked reports obtained by The Health Service Journal (HSJ) in October last year showed that “amputated limbs and pharmaceutical waste” were among the stockpiled waste not processed and disposed of within the correct regulatory timeframes.

A criminal investigation was launchedalong with a clear up operation.

Healthcare Environment Services Ltd suggested the backlog was due to a reduction in incinerator capacity – claims which the Environment Agency rebuffed. 

HES then sought “upwards of £15m”in damages following the termination of contracts to deal with the clinical waste of 17 health trusts.

150 workers were subsquently made redundant at its Shotts HQ last year and staff have since been pursuing legal action to recover wages.

Lawyers acting for the workers believe they could be owed more than £1m.

The liquidators are now seeking access to the company’s books and records.