Body parts and organs stockpiled by NHS waste contractor

Tonnes of medical waste including human organs, body parts and dangerous medical chemicals have been “stockpiled” by one of the NHS’s biggest disposal contractors, leaked documents have revealed.

Memos to and from NHS England obtained by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) show that private contractor Healthcare Environment Services (HES) - which has contracts with up to 50 NHS trusts - has “allowed amputated limbs, infectious liquids, refuse linked to cancer treatment and other hazardous materials to build up at its five waste handling sites”, The Daily Telegraph reports.

HES, which made a £15.4m profit last year, claims that the UK’s “ageing incinerators and strict disposal policies” make it impossible to keep up with demand, leading to a “signifiant amount of excess waste being stored at its sites”, The Independent says.

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In September, excess waste levels at the firm’s waste disposal plant in Normanton, West Yorkshire, reached 350 tonnes - “five times more than HES’s permitted level”, according to the HSJ report.

“This anatomical waste, which is made up of human body parts and surgical waste, has now been placed in fridges,” the news site continues, adding: “HES is also attempting to export 750 tonnes of pharmaceutical waste to Holland.”

The British government has said that the contractor’s practices do not pose a risk to the public.

But according to the leaked documents, 13 warning notices and two compliance notices have been issued to HES by the Environment Agency in the past year.

The government agency today announced that a criminal investigation has been launched.

According to HSJ, the waste stockpile was also discussed during a Cobra national incident committee meeting last month, when Health Secretary Matt Hancock ordered that £1m be set aside to help solve the problem.

Responding to the news of the stockpiled medical waste, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “These are staggering revelations and given the number of NHS trusts involved, along with wider environmental health implications, I’m disappointed the health secretary didn’t inform Parliament last month.”

Meanwhile, an HES spokesperson said: “We are working closely with our various disposal sites, including utilising our own £13m new waste to energy facility to reduce the volume on site, whilst maintaining services.”