Synergy Health and Leicester NHS trust launch decontamination site

Synergy Health has allied with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust to launch a new multimillion pound super-centre for decontaminating surgical instruments.

The facility has been set up at Meridian Business Park in Leicester following a 3.5 million pound investment from Synergy Health, with the trust's Glenfield, Leicester General and Leicester Royal Infirmary hospitals to be served by the site.

A joint venture between the two organisations, the centre employs 60 highly skilled former NHS employees and aims to improve operational efficiency via streamlined services and the use of sophisticated track-and-trace technology.

The partners intend for the new centre, which also operates in compliance with environmental regulations, to eventually accommodate the instrument decontamination requirements of neighbouring primary care trusts and GP and dental practices.

Synergy Health's UK and Ireland chief executive officer Adrian Coward said: "The new super-centre heralds an exciting new phase in Synergy Health's operations in Leicester and cements the long-established relationships we have built up with our NHS clients here."

The opening of the centre was overseen by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, with television crews from BBC East Midlands in attendance.