Hospitals save £15,000 by reducing food waste

Two hospitals have saved more than 35,000 patient meals from being thrown away by changing how food is ordered from the wards.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the improvements at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital had saved £15,000 since May.

Kitchens have switched to providing meals in single portion packs, rather than bulk cooking and delivering in portions of up to eight.

The hospitals have also stopped the ordering of additional meals in case patients were admitted later in the day and instead provide sandwiches if needed.

Jo Tock, patient meals assistant manager, said the change came about when food suppliers began offering meals in single packs.

She said under the previous system "If five patients on a ward order one specific dish and seven order a different dish, we would have sent six of the first meal and eight of the second, due to the pack sizes, which often leads to waste."

"The way the system works is that additional meals can be ordered up to 90 minutes before they are delivered to the wards and there will always be at least one spare meal built into what each area receives.

"We can also provide sandwiches for patients who are admitted later."

In addition, the hospitals are now recycling the plastic trays that the meals are delivered on.

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