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Oct 08 - GHA's New Catering Facility Opens On Saturday

The Gibraltar Health Authority’s new Catering Facility at St Bernard’s Hospital will start to function preparing food for patients on Saturday morning.

The facility, which is located to the west of the main hospital building in an area which was formerly a void over the garage entrance, is linked directly to the hospital and replaces the old kitchen at the North mole.

As from Saturday, food will no longer need to be transported by van from the North Mole in trolleys, but will be wheeled in directly into the hospital corridors, ensuring much greater freshness. At the same time the opportunity is being taken to change the way that food is presented for patients. Food will no longer travel on plates covered with plastic lids, but in bulk containers to be served on the wards.

The food prepared at the facility will also be served in HM Prison, St Martin's School, St Bernadette's Occupational Therapy Centre, Cancer Relief, and Ocean Views.

The new facility is purpose built, to the highest standards of hygiene and efficiency, including energy efficiency. Flows of food, from delivery, through preparation and serving to removal of waste will be in a continuing flow thus reducing the risk of cross contamination. The amount of food waste will also be significantly reduced. The design, which can cater for the production of up to 2000 meals a day, also means that the need for daily maintenance is greatly decreased. Staff facilities are also greatly improved. All equipment is energy saving and water saving,there is full ventilation and, a challenge for any building that uses so much electrical equipment, it has attained an ‘A’ rating for energy performance and environmental impact.

Minister for Health Dr John Cortes said, “This new facility will ensure much better quality food, better prepared and served to the benefit of all patients and the other users of this service. It has boosted the morale of staff who were working in sub-standard premises with old, inefficient equipment, as it has greatly improved working conditions and has allowed for training of the personnel. The whole process will be more efficient, but above all, the food that patients receive on their plates will be of a much higher quality. That’s what we’re all here for in the GHA, to improve the patient experience.” 

 

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