Caterer Elior Avenance wins new NHS contract

Elior will operate the staff, visitor, hospitality and vending services throughout the hospital over a 15-year period. It will be the catering company's biggest NHS contract. More than 3,000 staff are already employed at the hospital and patient numbers exceed 200,000 for outpatients and 60,000 on the wards each year. These figures are expected to grow by 10-15% following the redevelopment of the site. The expanded facilities will include operating theatres, outpatient services, daycare, and training for health professionals. Catherine Roe, managing director of contracts, Elior UK commented: "This was a fiercely contested catering contract. The Walsall redevelopment will transform the hospital into a prestigious, state-of-the-art healthcare centre and the catering had to rise to the occasion. We are delighted to have been chosen and see this as an endorsement of the quality we strive to deliver for all our clients."