Five star praise for Blackpool hospital caterers

Darren Cadwell and members of the catering team

A Five Star hygiene certificate has been added to the list of awards bestowed on Blackpool Victoria Hospital’s catering team.

The kitchens, which serve up more than 2,500 meals a day, have already been presented with a Healthier Choice award and named in the national top 25 per cent of hospitals for providing a good environment and enhanced non-clinical patient services.

They were also praised in the national Health Business magazine which highlighted Blackpool Victoria as a hospital “excelling in healthy catering.’’

The Five Star hygiene certificate was presented after an unannounced visit by an Environmental Health inspector from Blackpool Council who checked the kitchens, food preparation areas and hygiene systems and temperature records.

Every year since the ratings were introduced, the hospital restaurant has received this highest possible award.

Senior site services manager for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Yvonne Widdows, said: “As a hospital, it is imperative that we have a five star rating to ensure the best possible service to our patients, visitors and staff.

“We pride ourselves in providing wholesome, tasty and nutritious meals in a clean and safe environment. Our staff are hardworking and dedicated and pride themselves in ensuring a high standard of preparation and service for each and every meal provided.”

Yvonne added: “After his visit the inspector commented on how impressed he was at the standards of hygiene.”

Kitchen manager, Darren Cadwell, said: “Anything less than five stars would not be acceptable to me or the staff. The recognition this award gives makes all the hard work we do worthwhile.”

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