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Taumarunui Hospital kitchen has a makeover
Taumarunui Hospital kitchen has a makeover
Taumarunui Hospital’s kitchen will reopen on 13 July after a $60,000 makeover.
It will be a special day for the kitchen staff who have had to make do with temporary facilities amid the noise and bustle of construction. It will also be an opportunity to congratulate kitchen assistant Joy Savage who celebrates 40 years of service at Taumarunui Hospital this month.
The Waikato DHB board meeting is on at Taumarunui
Hospital from 2pm that day so board members can go to the
kitchen opening, which will begin with a blessing and
welcome at 1.15pm. This will be followed by lunch and then
by the board meeting at 2pm.
Taumarunui Hospital team
leader Glynis Fuller said those with a special connection to
the hospital were welcome to attend. Several guests had
already confirmed their attendance, she said.
“We have invited local kaumatua – three iwi have links to Taumarunui - and members of the Ruapehu District Council, some ex and current staff are also coming.”
The Taumarunui High School kapa haka group will perform.
New features of the kitchen include a new floor, wall coverings and equipment such as a new dishwasher. Food and environment services manager John Ingham said the kitchen refurbishment had to happen because of new food safety legislation coming into effect later this year.
Taumarunui Hospital’s
foodservice provides meals and refreshments to patients,
staff and visitors and to the day centre and on-site café.
They also provide a “meals on wheels” service for
elderly customers recovering from illness or injury in the
Taumarunui community.
The kitchen’s menu has been planned by the food service manager and clinical dietitian to meet the nutritional needs of patients and provides a cook fresh meal service.
A cook fresh meal service involves the cooking of food immediately prior to service to ensure quality.
The menu caters for special diets and
advice is available from a clinical dietitian.
The menu is on a two-week cycle to give patients a different option everyday.
The Taumarunui foodservice team consists of six members that provide a seven-day service.
“We firmly believe that food plays a big part in patient care and recovery and that there’s nothing like mum’s home cooked chicken soup when you are unwell,” said Mr Ingham
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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