Macclesfield provides over 200 daily meals to hospital visitors, staff, the public, out-patients and 350 to in-patients. The Royal Liverpool’s ‘Food Restaurant’ provides over 250 meals daily.
Both Macclesfield and The Royal Liverpool are part of an initiative by catering providers ISS Facilities Services Healthcare to improve hospital food.
One of the changes most widely welcomed by customers at Royal Liverpool has been the ‘big breakfast makeover’ – retaining traditional breakfast but using fresh ingredients, meat that achieves UK animal welfare standards, only free-range eggs and no undesirable additives or trans-fats.
The Royal Liverpool’s ISS head of catering, Sarah Turner, said: “The whole process has been a really positive one for staff and customers.
“I’m very proud of what the team has been able to change, and delighted to be able to offer our customers a selection of quality, healthy food.
“We are now working on more vegetarian options, as well as some exciting new recipes that make the most of food that is in season.”
East Cheshire NHS Trust's Director of Finance, Mark Ogden, said: "I'm delighted that the quality of the food provided to Macclesfield Hospital patients and visitors has been recognised in this way.
“Through our partnership with ISS, we strive to provide the best possible nutrition we can to patients so it is great to see the many compliments we receive about the hospital's food being reflected through a prestigious national initiative.”
Catering Mark meals are now served in over 25% of schools in England, 20% of universities, 300+ nurseries and 100+ care homes and hospitals.