Ready meal plan for hospital patients

1:20pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

HOSPITAL patients could be fed ready meals under plans to make savings at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

Under the proposals, the current meals at the Royal Bolton Hospital, which are made from fresh ingredients, would be scrapped and replaced with pre-packaged aeroplane-style meals.

According to union stewards, the plans include moving the preparation of the meals from the Royal Bolton Hospital to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, in Wigan.

They are part of an ongoing jobs consultation at the trust, which includes cutting 500 positions, including frontline staff and nurses.

Bosses must save £50 million over the next three years and the trust is already more than £14.5 million in debt.

Four chefs jobs are among those under threat.

The catering team has won numerous awards, despite spending £3.46 less on food each day, less than the national average of £8.77.

It is believed the new ready meals will be trialed on staff and visitors, to get their opinion before being rolled out to patients.

Harry Hanley, secretary of Staff Side at the hospital, said the proposals had been put before the catering team and that they could affect patient care.

He added: “If people don’t get the right diet they require then it will affect patients.

“It is disappointing. I don’t know how many awards they have won but it was a few and the people are proud of what they do in the kitchen and the meals they prepare.”

Bosses from the Royal Bolton Hospital have said they are unable to comment on proposals at the hospital until the end of the consultation.

Stephen Tyldesley, associate director of estates and facilities, said: “We need to make savings across the trust in all departments. In catering the staff are being consulted on a number of proposals, none of which is definite at this point in time and therefore we do not intend to go into detail about them.”

Comments(32)

steveG says...
2:44pm Thu 14 Mar 13

This is a retrograde step, many of us look forward to going into hospital just to get a freshly cooked meal,it's a great change from the supermarket ready meals we eat at home.

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boltonnut says...
3:15pm Thu 14 Mar 13

If it ain't broke the NHS trust will break it.You can be sure the trustees will be getting huge bonuses for putting people out of work.No more nourishing food,no wonder patients are "escaping" from RBH !!!!!!!!!

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Cooldude251 says...
3:47pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I work at the hospital and the meals are great. I have a friend who works at Wythenshaw Hospital where the meals are delivered from South Wales everyday, no concern for dietrey problems or halal meals, the patients all get the same. Nowhere for staff to get a hot meal, just processed meals that you warm up. I thought Bolton Hospitals prided itself on being a healthy one, seems that management don;t share that view.

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john H2o says...
4:40pm Thu 14 Mar 13

If the meals that are to be supplied are anything like those supplied to Manchester Royal, they are no better than pig-swill. The hospital trust refuses to say how much is disposed of uneaten and longer term patients have to have dietary supplements to prevent malnutrition which goes against the cost saving idea. Resist at all costs.

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hotandspicy says...
5:10pm Thu 14 Mar 13

maybe they can put something in the meals to stop moronic burdens on society wandering off out of the hospital in their slippers and dressing gown to be found by members of the public, who in turn report this to the Bolton news who in turn manage to headline it on the front page for sensationalism to feed the 'RBH bad news junkies'

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coolcat says...
5:19pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Since when did someone suffering from dementia become a "moron"?
A truly moronic comment.

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hoboh2o says...
5:46pm Thu 14 Mar 13

hotandspicy wrote:
maybe they can put something in the meals to stop moronic burdens on society wandering off out of the hospital in their slippers and dressing gown to be found by members of the public, who in turn report this to the Bolton news who in turn manage to headline it on the front page for sensationalism to feed the 'RBH bad news junkies'
So old people are morons then?

I can recomend a good rope shop you should visit to stop it from happening to you one day!

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BigDave1985 says...
5:51pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Its a bloody farce! Keep it fresh and these people employed. People will probably be worst off health wise with ping (horse) meals.

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John Prestige says...
6:05pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Ready meals !
Great timing RBH !
British hospitals never serve enough horse meat :)

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mr.mark.c says...
6:06pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Why not make patients pay for there meals at a subsidised rate?
Everybody keeps there jobs and everybody gets fresh food.
They would have to pay for food at home if they wasnt there.

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questionairre says...
6:06pm Thu 14 Mar 13

hotandspicy wrote
maybe they can put something in the meals to stop moronic burdens on society wandering off out of the hospital in their slippers and dressing gown to be found by members of the public, who in turn report this to the Bolton news who in turn manage to headline it on the front page for sensationalism to feed the 'RBH bad news junkies'

What a moron !

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buckfuzzby says...
6:20pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I don't want to knock the RBH, but it does make one wonder what's happening when two elderly patients can walk out of the hospital in pyjamas and dressing gown, it didn't happen on the same day and the first one ended up in Bristol 175 miles away, the second was found by a hairdresser,I would have thought more care would be taken after the first time it happened.
while I'm on the subject of RBH maybe this ready meal fiasco is to help the likes of Tesco and others to get rid of the mountain of ready meals found to have been contaminated by horsemeat.
I hope that members of the trust will be the first to be fed on these meals for a couple of weeks,if these meals are anything like airplane meals it would make them change their minds.

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Kayj21 says...
6:22pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I thought the food was microwaved! The smell and look of the food during my stay last year was enough to put me off but the taste was worse. I had 2 bites of my meal and had to push the plate away. It's a shame they have signs saying no outdoor food allowed or I would have got my partner to bring me a sandwich because I was starving. And hotandspicy must have a few brain cells missing, it's the hospital staffs job to ensure the safety and well being of people. Dementia is a serious illness and may affect you one day and if it does let's hope the staff let you out without noticing and that your family won't be to worried about your safety either. May want to google dementia for symptoms.

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buckfuzzby says...
6:54pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I had to be hospitalised for an operation..not in the RBH..when i'd had my op. I was put on nil by mouth for a few days, when the doctor gave the all clear for me to be fed again, I waited eagerly for my first meal for 5 days but was left out at lunchtime, when I complained I was told that there was nothing left so I would have to wait till teatime, alas when teatime came round I was still left out, I called a nurse over and explained the situation to her she said tea had finished but she could get me a cheese sandwich to which I agreed,off she went and I never saw her again. By the way, I made sure of breakfast the following morning, it was only toast but I enjoyed every bit if it.

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Horwich Observer says...
10:12pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Time to bring in TV Chef James Martin. He seemed to do a good job of the meals for the hospital in Yorkshire. Harrogate I think it was.

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rostron says...
11:42pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Hot & Spicy, So you have no elderly members in your family. If they knew you had written the above, they would be ashamed of you. Perhaps you would give us your proper name, so we know never to get close to you.
Never seen anything as ignorant.

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Rememberscarborough says...
12:21am Fri 15 Mar 13

If RBH are providing airport style food then we really do have a problem. None of my family will touch this "free" food and make sure we eat before we travel. Hospital food has never been much kop but it used to be streets ahead of plane food. I guess those that are able to will place an order for food with family members to bring with them when they come to visit as I ended up doing last time.

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buckfuzzby says...
1:22am Fri 15 Mar 13

hotandspicy ought to give some thought to the time when he/she will grow old, it will come sooner than you think,when it does I hope the people around you treat you with the same disrespect you seem to treat older people.
Mind you with the kind of attitude you're showing I don't think you'd give a s--t about that anyway.
Maybe it's about time you used your brainbox for things other than keeping your ears apart.

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buckfuzzby says...
1:40am Fri 15 Mar 13

steveG wrote:
This is a retrograde step, many of us look forward to going into hospital just to get a freshly cooked meal,it's a great change from the supermarket ready meals we eat at home.
I spent 12 months in hospital and although the food was bearable I was ravenous when I was discharged, I remember that first day, I could have eaten a dead horse between two bread vans.

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The Jazz says...
9:09am Fri 15 Mar 13

Pehaps someone should look at the alternatives to ready meals given to management by the award winning catering manager before they made her redundant at new year. She was NHS Catering Manager of the year in 2010 won Public service Catering business of the year in 2011. Saved over a million pounds of the Catering budget between 2007 and 2012, ran the only department to make the savings required year on year and had one of the lowest sickness rates per department across the Trust. She was liked by all her staff and genuinly cared for the food that was given to both patients and staff. The best boss we have ever had. The new boss is trying hard, but with two hands tied behind her back by Mr Tyldesley it must be difficult. This is a crying shame for the people of Bolton

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danssoncabaret says...
9:25am Fri 15 Mar 13

I was in RBH when the kitchens were being refurbished a few years ago, we were served these dreadful meals. These were microwaved slop, they were honestly revolting! Why not introduce a charge for decent food? As for not bringing own food in the ward,The side wards of the ward I was on reeked of curry and not one of the noctious disgusting, third world handouts had curry in them, only indistinguishable meat, pappy cauliflower and revolting dried reconstituted mash potatoes etc. you get the picture. Bolton NHS trust needs to get a grip, on all aspects of patient care. I wouldn't pay the ''Chiefs'' in washers, elderly people will be dying from malnutrition in droves. ( More figures to fiddle) Surely in the many meetings held by (free buffets included) these so called experts they would by the law of averages come up with at least one or two GOOD ideas.

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Albinosupport says...
12:33pm Fri 15 Mar 13

I suppose with all the cuts being made at RBH to reduce costs they will be making kitchen staff redundant and without the staff they will not be able to make the meals. Think of the staff who have families to support. The food isn't great there but its still a meal more than most children in 3rd world countries receive. Stop moaning!

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Dobbler says...
2:40pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Why dont they ask the confused patients like the guy Michael (whom they discharge in the dead of night - to be picked up by the police) to pick up some takeaways for everyone as they aimlessly wander the streets?
Personally for me as long as the food is ok, then Im all for the change - especially if it gets a few more NHS parasite staff off the books. There are lots of opportunities for catering staff (its one of the few growth industries at present) so they should easily find a job. However they will have a shock when they work for a profit making concern - wake up time!!

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The Jazz says...
12:46am Sun 17 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
Why dont they ask the confused patients like the guy Michael (whom they discharge in the dead of night - to be picked up by the police) to pick up some takeaways for everyone as they aimlessly wander the streets?
Personally for me as long as the food is ok, then Im all for the change - especially if it gets a few more NHS parasite staff off the books. There are lots of opportunities for catering staff (its one of the few growth industries at present) so they should easily find a job. However they will have a shock when they work for a profit making concern - wake up time!!
Hospital Catering staff are far from parasites earning just above minimum wage. I suppose if you are ill or injured you will packyourself off to a private GP or Hospital?........Tho
ught not

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Dobbler says...
10:35am Sun 17 Mar 13

No I wont - thats why I want these services sorte4d out so that it is delivered as economically as possible. My last stay oin BRH - the food was shocking and anyone associated with it shoulod have been sacked. There are too many passengers in the NHS and ruthless cuts need to be made to the parasitical ones are jetisoned pronto. its a tough world out there as many cossetted mampy pamper ex government staff are discovering - which I find very amusing.

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john H2o says...
12:08pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
Why dont they ask the confused patients like the guy Michael (whom they discharge in the dead of night - to be picked up by the police) to pick up some takeaways for everyone as they aimlessly wander the streets?
Personally for me as long as the food is ok, then Im all for the change - especially if it gets a few more NHS parasite staff off the books. There are lots of opportunities for catering staff (its one of the few growth industries at present) so they should easily find a job. However they will have a shock when they work for a profit making concern - wake up time!!
“Dobbler says........... Personally for me as long as the food is ok, then Im all for the change……..

……..thats why I want these services sorte4d out so that it is delivered as economically as possible. My last stay oin BRH - the food was shocking and anyone associated with it shoulod have been sacked. There are too many passengers in the NHS and ruthless cuts need to be made to the parasitical ones are jetisoned pronto. its a tough world out there as many cossetted mampy pamper ex government staff are discovering - which I find very amusing.”

Fact 1: The food provided by the outside caterers favoured by the NHS is not OK, in fact it’s disgusting slop which, after having had to suffer it for weeks at a time some while ago, still makes me retch every time I smell the ‘food’ trolley; which incidentally smells the same no matter what’s on the menu. It’s so bad that it was the subject of a ‘Despatches’ documentary about 18 months ago.

Fact 2: There has been no study to show that these bought in meals are more economical, especially when the extra time spent in hospital and the extra treatment spent on malnourished patients is taken into account.

Fact 3: Yes there are too many staff in the NHS doing unnecessary jobs. Start with cutting all the staff who process the ‘Racial and Religious ‘ data forms, they are not needed for health and wellbeing. Cut out all translation services. Cut out several levels of management and make all workers do a full 40 hour week, sack all of those who go off sick with ‘stress’ as a result. Without a doubt the budget needs to be cut; it can be cut; but patient care and wellbeing shouldn’t suffer as a result.

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ALI MINIUM KHAN says...
9:11pm Sun 17 Mar 13

chicken burger, chips and a can of pop, £2, k2 morris green lane, 1 mile from hospital, dont knock it till you've tried it

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The Jazz says...
1:13am Mon 18 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
No I wont - thats why I want these services sorte4d out so that it is delivered as economically as possible. My last stay oin BRH - the food was shocking and anyone associated with it shoulod have been sacked. There are too many passengers in the NHS and ruthless cuts need to be made to the parasitical ones are jetisoned pronto. its a tough world out there as many cossetted mampy pamper ex government staff are discovering - which I find very amusing.
I take it you have lost your job and spend all day reading the daily mail. BRH is not the greatest hospital in the world by a long way, but it has some good people working there. As for cossetted staff, unlike the private sector, NHS staff don't get golf days,company cars, company phones, bonuses, perks at christmas, share options, or any other reward. Oh and if you mention the pension scheme, well you should have paid more into your own.

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Dobbler says...
4:33am Mon 18 Mar 13

Ooooh....touch a nerve did I there Jazz? :) If so....good!
Actually you have me quite wrong. I do have time on my hands but thats because I was able to retire before 50 as a result of a succesful life as an entrpreneur (just so you know what that means - someone who makes money without having to suck off the state or 'cry' for someone to give me a job). I didnt have to depend on sucking up to bosses I didnt like or work in jobs I loathed - because I took control of my own destiny and decided years ago not to be a wage slave. Thats why Im typing this at 4am on a Monday morning (I dont have to be up at daft o'clock in order to go and kiss my boss' a**. I make my own rules) So, the corporate world that you refer to is the last thing I would want to be associated with - thank you very much. Your comments kind of, sadly, indicate the scope of your own aspirations - as you seem to think a job in the private sector to be akin to finding a pot of gold.
As for pensions - I dont do pensions - or at least I dont depend on them. Pensions will just about keep me in holiday spending money at best. Im sorted thanks - so dont worry about me Jazz.
I hope today at work isnt too stressful for you - that is if you actually have a job :) Otherwise - press on hard with the pen - when you sign on this week.

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SleepingThunder says...
3:48pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Well there goes your 5 a day replaced with 1ib of salt

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Puffin-Billy says...
9:38pm Mon 18 Mar 13

All part of the privatisation process.

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buckfuzzby says...
3:06pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
Ooooh....touch a nerve did I there Jazz? :) If so....good!
Actually you have me quite wrong. I do have time on my hands but thats because I was able to retire before 50 as a result of a succesful life as an entrpreneur (just so you know what that means - someone who makes money without having to suck off the state or 'cry' for someone to give me a job). I didnt have to depend on sucking up to bosses I didnt like or work in jobs I loathed - because I took control of my own destiny and decided years ago not to be a wage slave. Thats why Im typing this at 4am on a Monday morning (I dont have to be up at daft o'clock in order to go and kiss my boss' a**. I make my own rules) So, the corporate world that you refer to is the last thing I would want to be associated with - thank you very much. Your comments kind of, sadly, indicate the scope of your own aspirations - as you seem to think a job in the private sector to be akin to finding a pot of gold.
As for pensions - I dont do pensions - or at least I dont depend on them. Pensions will just about keep me in holiday spending money at best. Im sorted thanks - so dont worry about me Jazz.
I hope today at work isnt too stressful for you - that is if you actually have a job :) Otherwise - press on hard with the pen - when you sign on this week.
Well spoken Dobbler, this country could do with more people with your kind of attitude.....


....

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