Medirest, a division of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has been awarded a significant catering and cleaning contract by the South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, which is slated to commence in May 2025. This contract will serve a large population, with the Trust catering to approximately 1.2 million residents across London. Medirest's responsibilities will primarily encompass two major facilities: Springfield University Hospital in Tooting and Tolworth Hospital in Kingston.

Under this new agreement, Medirest is tasked with providing high-quality catering solutions tailored to the needs of patients, staff, and visitors. A key feature of their patient catering service will be the introduction of over 100 dishes from the Moreish range—a selection designed to offer both variety and flexibility. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the patient dining experience, providing individuals with a broader selection of personalised meal options that accommodate specific dietary requirements, ultimately contributing to improved health and wellbeing.

To ensure that the menu remains relevant and appealing, Medirest plans to actively engage with patients, soliciting their feedback to refine and adjust offerings as necessary, with a focus on quality, taste, and comfort.

At Springfield University Hospital, Medirest will utilise its digital-led kitchen concept. This innovative approach allows for the preparation of fresh meals on demand, significantly reducing food waste and giving customers the ability to access meals via a dedicated digital platform.

Russell Blake, the managing director of healthcare at Compass Group UK & Ireland, expressed enthusiasm regarding the new contract. "Medirest has a well-established history of forming strategic partnerships. We look forward to implementing this into our new contract with South West London and St George’s. Our people are our greatest asset, and we are excited to welcome our new team members as part of this partnership," he stated.

The new team members will be compensated at or above the London Living Wage, and as part of their employment benefits, staff will receive free meals during their shifts. Additionally, every team member will undergo training aimed at enhancing the patient experience, aligning with the Positive Impressions framework.

Ian Garlington, the better communities programme director for South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, commented on the collaboration, noting, “We are looking forward to establishing a partnership approach with Medirest, supporting us to empower our patients, offering additional choice and diversity, and keeping them at the heart of everything we do. We will work together to create great services that will improve the experience of people across our Trust and support the delivery of high-quality patient care for our South West London communities.”