Modern Slavery Act

Statutory Statement

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (STHK) provides acute healthcare services at St Helens Hospital and Whiston Hospital, both of which are modern, high quality facilities.

St Helens Hospital undertakes the majority of the Trust's outpatient and day-case surgery, and has a small number of rehabilitation beds. Whiston Hospital is the larger of the two hospitals with full Accident and Emergency Department, Critical Care, Paediatric and Maternity services.

The Trust employs in excess of 4,300 staff, and had an income in 2015/16 of £313m.

The Trust has an excellent track record for providing high standards of care to a population of approximately 350,000 people across St Helens, Knowsley, Halton, Liverpool and further afield. In addition, the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit provides treatment for patients across Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, the Isle of Man and other parts of the North West, serving a population of over 4 million.

The Trust is fully aware of the responsibility it bears toward its customers, employees and the communities which it serves. Thus, the Trust has created a set of ethical values to guide employees and suppliers in its business dealings.

The Trust expects that all it's suppliers of goods and services adhere to similarly high ethical principles, and in compliance with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 the Trust is currently reviewing its supply chains with a view to confirming their appropriate behaviour. The Trust has also identified potential areas of greater risk including those contractors dealing with the provision of food, construction, cleaning, and clothing.

Our next step will be to introduce a 'Supplier Code of Conduct' to ask all existing and new suppliers to confirm their compliance with the Act. We will also be adding evidence gathering questions into our tendering procedures.

Advice and training on slavery and human trafficking is currently available to staff through the Safeguarding Team but measures will be taken over the coming year to explore how the profile of this subject can be further elevated.