Fresh, nutritious meals that help patients heal is what Food Services prides itself on.
Every day, the dedicated team in Redland Hospital’s kitchen plates up more than 500 meals, ensuring patients receive food that is both nutritious and comforting during their hospital stay.
Food Services Manager Tara Stevenson said it was a huge logistical effort to keep the hospital’s food services running smoothly.
“It takes a caring team of people not just within Food Services, but also nursing, dietetics, and support staff to ensure patients, and customers get the best experience while in hospital.
“The kitchen is always a hive of activity, whether it’s preparing meals, coordinating dietary requirements, or just tackling the sheer amount of washing up that comes with feeding hundreds of people three times a day,” Tara said. “From breakfast to dinner, the kitchen staff work to ensure that every patient receives a meal tailored to their needs.
“The kitchen also prepares food for our Redland Residential Care units as well with some of our tried-and-true favourites including beef lasagne, cream of chicken soup, ham salad, and French cream cheesecake,” she said.
Director of Nutrition and Dietetics Jessica Darmenia explained why proper nutrition was so important in a hospital setting.
“Providing nutritious meals plays a really important component in patient care,” she said. “During hospital admission patients’ dietary requirements often change and they need extra protein and energy to aid in their recovery.
“Patients can often find it hard to meet their increased requirements if they are feeling unwell or have a poor appetite. Our food service dietitian works closely with the Food Service's staff to ensure we have a range of nutritious meals and mid meal snacks available for our patients.
“Our team of dietitians and nutrition assistants work closely with our patients to assist in making menu selections that meet their nutritional requirements, whilst also considering any cultural preferences or food allergies.”
Tara said Food Services was not just meals to patients - the wonderful and diverse team were also working in Coochie Café, Coffee Cart and Redland Satellite Health Centre.
"To our team members who were available to help during TC Alfred, I can't thank you enough for being here to support the Bayside Health Service community during the severe weather event," she said.