HOSPITAL volunteers say they are “deeply disappointed” at a decision to award a major contract for shop, café and restaurant services to a private company.

Compass Group is to take over at Worthing Hospital, Southlands Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester from the League of Friends groups who have been providing services for decades.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust says the move will lead to a £1.1m investment in upgrading the main entrances of all three hospitals.

It will also generate a further £450,000 a year to invest in patient services and the first instalment will be allocated for radiology and ultrasound equipment at Worthing and St Richard’s.

The new outlets will be Costa coffee, pastries and paninis from DeliMarche, a full-service Spice of Life restaurant and ‘grab and go’ shopping from convenience retailer Amigo.

The trust has said it will provide space within its hospitals for Friends to continue their fundraising activities and also wants them to continue to run daily ward trolley services.

In a joint statement the Friends groups for the three hospitals said They had been unable to bid for the new contract but had offered to carry out refurbishment if the trust decided to keep things as they currently are and were disappointed at the trust’s decision.

The statement said: “We have served the needs of our hospitals and their patients, staff and visitors efficiently and caringly for almost 70 years.

“This decision has come as a heavy blow to the men and women who put their hearts into serving the needs of others, helping to lighten the strain of illness upon countless patients and their families.

“It is expected to take some time for Compass to be installed, and the Friends intend to run services as normally as possible until reorganisation takes effect.

“All of the Friends' shops and cafeterias have been run successfully and profitably for decades.”

Trust director of facilities, estates and capital, David Jones, said: “All three Friends organisations make a valuable contribution to our hospitals, giving their time and expertise and we remain grateful for everything they do.

“We appreciate change is often difficult, but we are committed to doing all we can to help them maintain fundraising activities and we have pledged to refurbish new locations at the trust’s cost.

“The new retail catering contract secures an ongoing, guaranteed yearly income of £450,000, which is around three times as much as the Friends’ shops generate each year.

“In addition to bolstering the levels of direct investment in services, it is also important to recognise that the new contract will provide lower restaurant prices, more choice, and extended opening hours, for patients, visitors and staff alike.”