Sodexo has secured a five year extension to its contract at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Essex, worth £90 million.

The service provider has been working with the hospital for the past 10 years, which is operated by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT).

Under the terms of the new contract, Sodexo will continue its provision of soft services, including patient dining, portering, waste management, cleaning, retail, reception, security, estates management and grounds maintenance.

The new deal will also see Sodexo introduce a series of improvements to its services, which it insists will focus on “enhancing patient experience” and help to release clinical time to care for patients.

The company will introduce a range of steam-cooked meals, which it says will offer freshness and a fast service. Sodexo is also to run a scheme to replace all curtains with antimicrobial, disposable alternatives which have been designed to help control the spread of disease.

Director of Estates at BHRUT, Simon Mills, commented: “Delivering the highest quality of care possible to our patients is what we’re always working towards, so it’s been great to see some of the improvements Sodexo have made recently. These things can really make a difference and give our patients a better experience of staying in our hospital.”

Sodexo is also currently in the second year of a five year FM contract at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where it provides cleaning, portering, retail and private patient services throughout its five London hospitals: Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital and the Western Eye Hospital.