Radical shake-up for NHS catering
The Government has pledged an extra £10m-a-year to improving hospital food, including a 24-hour catering service and a new menu designed by top chefs.
The promise came as part of a "radical" new plan for the National Health Service announced this afternoon by prime minister Tony Blair in the Commons.
The overall programme addresses a wide range of problems, from the state of hospital wards to lack of staff and long waiting lists.
Hospital food is "variable in quality" and "not provided in a way which is sufficiently responsive to patients", the plan document states. As a result, too much is wasted.
The Government said it would introduce the new, 24-hour service by 2001. This would feature "a new NHS menu, designed by leading chefs".
The menu will cover "continental breakfast, cold drinks and snacks at mid-morning and in the afternoon, light lunchtime meals and an improved two-course evening dinner."
Minimum standards will be set for all hospitals.
The Government will also examine "a national franchise for NHS catering" to ensure hospital food is provided by organisations with a national reputation for high quality and consumer satisfaction.
Half of all hospitals will have new "ward housekeepers" in place by 2004 to ensure that the quality, presentation and quantity of meals meets patient needs; that patients, particularly elderly people, are able to eat the meals on offer; and that the service patients receive is genuinely available round the clock.
Patients views will be measured as part of an assessment of hospitals' performance. There will be unannounced inspections of the quality of hospital food.
by David Shrimpton david.shrimpton@rbi.co.uk
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