Mmm! Hospital food is among the finest
11:36am Friday 23rd May 2008
DORSET County Hospital serves some of the best food in the country, a survey out today reveals.
The Dorchester hospital has been rated fifth best in the country for food - and top of the district hospitals.
The result comes from a national survey by the Healthcare Commission.
In-patients were given a questionnaire in which they were asked to rate the food as either very good, good, fair or poor.
Dorset County Hospital got an average score of 68 (good) along with East Cheshire NHS Trust.
Catering manager Tim Pike said staff were delighted by the news.
He said: "Being fifth in the country is quite an accolade and I am really pleased.
"The chefs all really deserve this.
"I think the catering side of patient care is a good gauge of how we perform as a hospital.
"Nutrition is very important for patients. Eating is the highlight of their day so it has to be good.
"All our main meals are fresh and prepared on site each day and on a tight budget."
Dorset County Hospital's catering team works every day of the year.
Staff prepare about 400 patient meals a day and the same number again for visitors and staff.
The catering department employs some 60 full and part-time staff.
Mr Pike said: "I have always tried to make sure we provide the best food at all times. If we wouldn't eat it we don't serve it.
"We got a lot of feedback about the quality of our food. People love it."
Mr Pike said the rating would not have been possible without senior chefs Richard Stokes, Robert Dalgleish and Mary Sargeant.
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wessexwyvern, Eastleigh says...
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Christopher Tarrant, Portand says...
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TOP COOKING: Chefs Mary Sargeant, Mike Ransom, Richard Stokes, Wayne Fowell, Robert Dalgleish, Tina Greenhaigh, Sue Foot, Teresa Penny and deputy catering manger Peter Margetts
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