Strathcarron covers an area in Scotland with a population of around 400,000 and provides palliative care for 1,200 terminally ill patients, most of whom stay in their own homes, with about 400 coming into the hospice ward each year and 100 people a week coming in for day care.
However, the main kitchen in the hospice wasn’t up to environmental standards and needed replacing.
Irene McKie, Strathcarron Hospice’s chief executive, said: “It was old but, more importantly, it didn’t meet new environmental health standards. We needed to replace all the old fittings with stainless steel, ensuring there were no joints or dirt traps.
“Moffat has provided help in the past in the form of at-cost or even below-cost equipment for the main kitchen, and we asked them to tender for the new kitchen. After the tendering process we selected Moffat for the contract. Then, out of the blue, the company announced they had decided to manufacture, supply and install the kitchen for free. It was just brilliant.”
Hospices offer personalised care, with higher staffing levels than the NHS and although it does receive some funding from the NHS, Strathcarron is an independent charity.
McKie added: “In order to survive we have to raise £10,000 a day - it’s a real struggle, even more so as we try to expand our services to meet growing demand. As well as providing for our patients we are looking after carers and those suffering bereavement.
“So a gift like Moffat’s is a huge bonue - it means the money we would have had to spend on the kitchen can go towards the vital services we supply.”
The hospice cooks to order; with staff taking the menu to patients and an efficient kitchen is essential for Strathcarron.
Once a patient asked for semolina, but the staff on duty had never cooked it and we didn’t have any,” continued McKie. “So they went to the shop, bought some and made it. By the end of that week, we had 14 patients eating semolina – they were divided into two factions, those who liked fruit with it, and those who preferred jam!”
Moffat fabricated stainless steel floor cupboards, wall cupboards, sinks and splashbacks for the kitchen. The total install was worth well in excess of £10,000.
Gordon McIntosh, Moffat’s commercial director, said: “Strathcarron Hospice is a local charity that does truly wonderful work. We are delighted to continue our support for them and the services they provide.”