Hospital fare is fine food

FOOD served at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire has won plaudits in a national audit, months after it was slammed by patients.

The quality of the meals came under fire as soon as private catering giant Sodexo took over the multi-million contract last year.

The business operated by cooking the fare in South Wales and then bringing it to the Hartshill complex to be warmed up and taken to the wards.

Hospital bosses took up the complaints with the company's bosses leading to better food starting to filter through.

Now the Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) has visited the hospital to assess its standards on the environment, food, privacy and dignity.

The team, made up of experts and patients from outside the area, found the food "excellent" at the Royal Infirmary site and "good" at the City General.

It also scored the hospital as "good" on its environment and standard of quality and dignity.

Last month a PEAT team returned similar glowing verdicts on hospitals such as the Harplands and Bucknall run by Combined Healthcare mental health trust.

Story filed in: Unviersity Hospital of North Staffordshire | Health | News