Hundreds of workers at a troubled clinical waste firm in North Lanarkshire have been made redundant. Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) told staff they were being made redundant with “immediate effect”.

In a letter given to employees, managing director Garry Pettigrew said the firm had ceased trading due to circumstances “outwith our control”.

About 150 people are employed at the firm’s base in Shotts, and almost 400 at depots throughout the UK.

Employees had earlier been sent text messages warning them they might not be paid this week, with HES claiming its bank had refused to release funds.

They were then called to meetings on Thursday morning, where they were handed redundancy notices.

Not at all surprisingly, it is reported that there were many tears among those affected.

The letter said: “I write to you to inform you that your position in the company will be made redundant with immediate effect.

“I apologise that there have been no previous consultations on this matter, however there are unforeseen circumstances that have proven to be outwith our control.”

It said the company had been “exploring all avenues, both politically and commercially, through enterprise schemes and sales of parts and the whole of the business to try to secure the future of the employees and the company.”

But it added: “We have been given no assistance at any time, from the politicians or enterprise bodies in England or Scotland, we have been unable to resolve matters, and accordingly the company will cease trading on December 27, 2018.”

The company had responsibility for disposing of clinical waste from every hospital, GP’s surgery, dental practice and pharmacy in Scotland.

But it lost 17 contracts with NHS trusts in England earlier this year as a criminal inquiry was launched into a build up of waste at some of its depots.

More at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-46689322