Board defends its standard of meals
HOSPITAL bosses have moved to defend the standard of food served to patients.
Elderly patients attending a meeting of the North Staffordshire Pensioners' Convention on Monday were given the chance to quiz chief executive Julia Bridgewater.
The main complaint raised was the poor standard of food at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
In response, Mrs Bridgewater said improving the quality of meals will be a priority.
At yesterday's board meeting, when asked directly if there were any plans to sever ties with catering contractor Sodexo after complaints, trust chairman Mike Brereton said: "No. The feedback is quite good."
Yesterday, The Sentinel reported how Mrs Bridgewater said: "now 65 per cent of our food is locally sourced."
Sodexo began its contract with the University Hospital of North Staffordshire last August. Food is cooked in South Wales.
When asked how the company sources its food locally, medical director Robert Courteney-Harris said: "The contract with Sodexo is tightly managed and changes to diet have been made in response to complaints."
3 Comments
by Richard, Stafford
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 11:49PM
“It's about time this was stopped on environmental grounds. What must the C02 emissions be on the 150 mile journey from South Wales?
It's just as crazy as having post in Stoke taken to Wolverhampton for sorting, then brought back to Stoke for posting. It should be illegal.”
by Tim, Stoke
Friday, November 06 2009, 5:18PM
“I cannot believe the food is cooked in Wales and then brought up to Stoke for the patients.”
by William Read, Stafford
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 3:35PM
“There was considerable corrspondence in the Sentinel when the contract for food at UHNS was awarded to Sodexo; most expressed scepticism that this would improve the food available to patients, and staff. How it can be more economical to cook meals in South Wales and transport them 150 miles to Stoke, than to cook them on the premises, is a mystery to everyone. Perhaps someone from UHNS or Sodexo could explain exactly how the system works?”