Liverpool Women’s University Hospital set to bring soft facilities management services in-house

Liverpool Women’s University Hospital (LWH) has announced that it will bring soft facilities management services in-house at its Crown Street site, moving 130 staff on to NHS contracts.

Soft facilities management services provide essential support to hospitals which include cleaning, catering, portering and security. Staff providing these services will be transferred into NHS employment when the existing contract comes to an end from October this year.

This decision was approved by the board of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group) following a review of the outsourced services which identified that bringing services in-house delivers best value for money.

In recent years, these services have been successfully brought in-house across other UHL Group sites, giving better flexibility over how the services are run and improved quality. In 2023, 670 staff providing soft facilities management services were brought in-house at Broadgreen Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, while these services were already provided in-house at Aintree University Hospital.

In addition, this will improve the terms and conditions for staff in the roles by offering improved pay, annual leave provision, and pension.

Jenny Hannon, Executive Managing Director at Liverpool Women’s University Hospital, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing our soft facilities management services in-house. This transition means our valued colleagues will move onto NHS contracts, marking an important step in aligning their roles more closely with the wider NHS workforce. We look forward to welcoming you into the NHS family.”

Staff in these roles have been informed of the decision and are being supported by the hospital’s HR team ahead of their transfer into NHS employment, which is scheduled for 1 October 2025.

The decision to transition employment for people working within these services to NHS terms and conditions, is supported by Unison, Unite the Union and GMB.

Joe Baldwin, UNISON Liverpool Hospitals Health Branch Secretary, said: "We have long campaigned for the return of this vital service to come back into the NHS and I am delighted that it has now become a reality for our members. This move will make a real difference to our members working lives, reaffirming the value of being part of the NHS family and having access to Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions. I applaud the Trust Executives for making this important decision, a clear example of what can be achieved through effective partnership working with UNISON LHHB."