TDH consult staff on food services proposal

Tairāwhiti District Health (TDH) is consulting staff and unions on a proposal to change how food services are provided to patients and staff.
Medirest, who are part of Compass Group, already buy, cook and deliver food to TDH patients and staff. They also prepare all the Meals on Wheels dinners. The TDH Board, along with health boards around the country is considering whether to join a national arrangement for food service delivery by Compass.
This would see changes to how the meals are prepared. For TDH, the main change would be that a greater proportion of meal components would be pre-prepared, and then heated on site, than is presently the case.

There are currently no common nutritional standards for hospital food services in New Zealand, resulting in considerable variation in quality and nutritional value across the country. Under the proposal, a single set of food quality and nutritional standards will be introduced to support good patient outcomes.
Over the proposed 15-year contract, based on today’s dollars, the TDH could save approximately $1.77 million.

The proposed scope of the new food services delivery model encompasses:
• Patient meals, including beverages.
• Meals on Wheels.
• Cafeteria supplies and services.
• Food supplies to wards and departments.
• Function catering and vending machines (optional to DHBs).
Consultation will focus on the high level proposed changes. It is not detailed consultation at an individual staff member level. No decision, to proceed with the proposal or not, has been made.
The final decision to implement the Food Services proposal rests with the TDH Board, which will take full account of staff feedback and potential impacts, as well as clinical outcomes.

ENDS

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