Hundreds of tonnes of clinical waste including human organs, body parts and dangerous medical chemicals have been stockpiled by one of the NHS’s biggest disposal contractors, a leaked report has revealed.

The Healthcare Environment Services (HES) Ltd group has contracts with up to 50 NHS trusts to incinerate or dispose of amputated body parts, toxic chemotherapy chemicals, and potentially infectious bodily fluids.

But it says the UK’s ageing incinerators and strict disposal policies mean it cannot keep up with demand leading to a signifiant amount of excess waste being stored at its sites.

The government said there is no risk to the public but the backlog has sparked multiple Environment Agency warnings and a meeting of the Cobra national incident committee.

NHS England documents leaked to the Health Service Journal (HSJ) show that the health secretary, Matt Hancock, identified £1m at the ministerial meeting last month.

Trusts with HES contracts have been issued specialist storage units which they can use to store waste on site if necessary. However, HES is still receiving collections.

Each month, HES collects 584 tonnes of “incineration only” waste, and 1,972 tonnes of non-hazardous waste, and their storage and destruction is government by strict regulations.

It is the sole provider of waste disposal services for all hospital sites in Scotland, as well as a number of English hospitals.

The leaked reports show that one of the group’s five English disposal sites in Normanton, West Yorkshire, was holding 350 tonnes of waste – five times more than the 70 tonnes permitted.

This includes human tissue and surgical waste, and the Environment Agency has been working with the company to ensure these remains are stored appropriately in refrigerated units.

NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Show all 18 1 /18 NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People holding placards attend a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, addresses demonstrators following the march AFP/Getty NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary A man stands with a coffin, used as a prop at a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary epa06851663 Thousands of people march, to mark 70 years of the British National Health Service (NHS), in central London, Britain, 30 June 2018. Reports state that the gathering is calling on the government for increased funding and staffing for the NHS, as well as a protest against privatisation of an organisation which turns 70 years old on 05 July 2018. EPA/ANDY RAIN ANDY RAIN EPA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People holding placards attend a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary A man wears an NHS themed hat during a march in support of the National Health Service, in central London, Britain, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson SIMON DAWSON Reuters NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Demonstrators hold placards during a march in support of the National Health Service, in central London, Britain, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson SIMON DAWSON REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary epa06851662 A man with a birthday placard as thousands of people march, to mark 70 years of the British National Health Service (NHS), in central London, Britain, 30 June 2018. Reports state that the gathering is calling on the government for increased funding and staffing for the NHS, as well as a protest against privatisation of an organisation which turns 70 years old on 05 July 2018. EPA/ANDY RAIN ANDY RAIN EPA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Demonstrators stand in Whitehall during a march in support of the National Health Service, in central London, Britain, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson SIMON DAWSON REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People march in central London to mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 30, 2018. See PA story INDUSTRY Demonstration. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire John Stillwell PA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Demonstrators hold placards during of a march in support of the National Health Service, in central London, Britain, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson SIMON DAWSON REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People holding placards attend a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Demonstrators hold placards during a march in support of the National Health Service, in central London, Britain, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson SIMON DAWSON REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Jeremy Corbyn and Jon Ashworth speak during a march in central London, marking the 70th anniversary of the NHS. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 30, 2018. See PA story INDUSTRY Demonstration. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire John Stillwell PA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People holding placards attend a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People holding placards attend a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People gather with placards to attend a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary People gather with placards to attend a demonstration and celebration march to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), in central London on June 30, 2018. Organised by the Peoples Assembly, Health Campaigns Together, The TUC and 11 other health trade unions, tens of thousands are expected to attend the only national public event organised to mark the anniversary of the British Health Service. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images

The leaked reports seen by the HSJ suggest the company has received 13 warnings and two compliance notices from the Environment Agency in the past year alone.

Hospitals have also been told to stop paying the company where it is breaching terms of its contract around disposing of hazardous waste.

It is currently looking to ship 650 tonnes of pharmaceutical waste to Holland.

A spokesperson for the company said in a statement: ”Healthcare Environmental has highlighted the reduction in the UK’s high-temperature incineration capacity for the last few years.

“This is down to the ageing infrastructure, prolonged breakdowns and the reliance on zero waste to landfill policies, taking up the limited high-temperature incineration capacity in the market.

”Over the last year, this reduced incineration capacity has been evident across all of the industry and has affected all companies. Healthcare Environmental has been in discussion with the environmental regulators and has consistently highlighted these issues, whilst we have maintained service to all our clients. There has been no disruption to our customers’ services whilst we have been dealing with this issue.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary called for statement in the House of Commons on the contingency plans in place.

He added: ”These are staggering revelations and given the number of NHS Trusts involved, along with wider environmental health implications, I’m disappointed the health secretary didn’t inform parliament last month.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “There is absolutely no risk to the health of patients or the wider public.