Chance to have say on hospital food

In 2014 the Royal Oldham Hospital was praised on prime time TV by celebrity chef James Martin for a new menu devised for children and young people receiving care at the hospital.

RESIDENTS are invited to give their opinion on hospital food as the Royal Oldham Hospital opens its doors for a tasting session.

Staff, patients and visitors alike will participate in the two-hour Field to Plate event on Wednesday, April 19.

The free event is part of the Medicine for Members series designed to give residents a greater insight into their local hospital and its services.

Food available on the hospital's menus can be traced from the "field to the plate" and as much as possible is sourced locally.

Annually, there are 1,479,000 meals served to up to 1,480 patients three times each day by the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The trust, which oversees the Royal Oldham Hospital, also provides meals for patients at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, as well as Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust.

Trust catering lead Howard Cartledge said: "We want to explain to our patients, visitors and relatives how the food we serve is locally sourced, and give people a chance to sample the food served on the wards each day and to give us their views."

Pennine Acute provide a range of menus to cater for patients' differing conditions and beliefs.

Its menus focus on providing good nutrition and hydration to help patients recover from surgery or illness.

On each ward patients have access to a folder providing information on service times, allergens and menu options.

Pennine Acute looks to provide a range of Red Tractor meat and sustainable fish caught produce as well as a good range of healthy options.

Rainforest Fair Trade tea and coffee plus other locally-sourced products are also used.

The free event runs from 10am until noon in the Café Royal, the Royal Oldham Hospital.

To book, contact Angela Greenwood on 01706 517302 or email membership@pat.nhs.uk.