Award for Rotherham Hospital food

ISS Facility Services Healthcare, the catering service which provides food at the hospital, has been given the Soil Association's Food for Life Bronze Standard Award.

It is understoof to be the first time a contract caterer has achieved this important accreditation in the NHS.

The Soil Association's Food for Life Catering Mark is an independent endorsement that the caterer is taking steps to improve their food, using fresh ingredients which are free from harmful additives, and better for animal welfare.

To achieve the Bronze Standard, caterers demonstrated the use of seasonal menus, with 75 per cent of dishes freshly prepared.

Meals incorporate non-GM ingredients to include meat from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards.

Simon Cox, managing director of ISS, said: “This has taken a lot of hard work by so many people, but I am proud that we were the first contract caterer to demonstrate the commitment needed to achieve this award.

“At Rotherham, we will now be looking to progress to the Silver standard, while it is our aim to have more awards in our other NHS kitchens.”

Louise Barnett, interim chief executive of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We place great importance on nutrition and we're extremely proud to be the first NHS organisation to achieve this accolade.

“Our catering and estates and facilities teams continually work hard to ensure we provide the best possible standards for our patients, visitors and staff.”