HCA gears up for full-scale overhaul

The Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) is considering restructuring, making links with other associations and perhaps even changing its name.

The association's secretary, Sandra Roberts, said that caterers providing food in hospitals were changing radically and were now much more involved in hotel services.

In an effort to find out what its members think, all 500 HCA members have been surveyed by Sheffield Hallam University, which asked a wide range of questions on the changing job role of hospital caterers, association structure, links with other associations, the name of the HCA and future direction. The association will then work with a management consultant to use the research to produce a strategy for the way forward.

The possibility of a name change has been suggested as a means of attracting other professional groups, such as housekeepers, working in the health service.

Roberts, catering manager at North Staffordshire Hospital in Stoke, said that an HCA merger with another catering body was not on the agenda, "but there might be a way we could have closer links".

The association is now looking for a management consultant. Roberts can be contacted on 01782 552790.

by Bob Gledhill

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 22-28 June 2000