Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s catering team have had their excellent standards confirmed once more by being shortlisted for three national awards celebrating the very best in public sector catering.
The team, based at Stepping Hill Hospital, are up for the titles of ‘Hospital Catering of the Year’ and ‘Team of the Year’ at this year’s Public Sector Catering Awards, while department head Duncan O’Neil has been shortlisted for the title of ‘Special Contribution Award’.
The team provides catering for both inpatients and the hospital restaurant, and has set continually high standards, being recognised as an ‘examplar site’ for other NHS trusts to follow since 2021. As well as keeping to high nutritional standards, the team pride themselves on their diversity, with food and recipes from around the world, and with special menus developed for theme days including religious, cultural, and other celebrations.
In 2022 the team’s Assistant Head Chefs Erica Bell and Shelley Pearson-Smith were named as NHS Chefs of the Year following a nation-wide competition run by NHS England and NHS Improvement. Erica and Shelley were judged on factors including flavour, innovation, nutritional value, affordability, and reducing the carbon footprint of ingredients, and came out above all national rivals. They will now be serving as mentors in this year’s competition.
The team has reached its high standards under the leadership of Duncan O’Neil who has been praised by colleagues for his hard work, innovation, and his dedication to improving staff morale. He is described by colleagues as being a supportive boss who helps colleagues to progress in their roles, and having a constant and consistent desire to learn and improve the service, taking the team around him along at every step, which helps create a strong team working ethic.
Duncan is the first to admit none of the improvements or changes would be possible without the support the kitchen management team of Asela Kuruwita, Nicholas Roberts and Emma Cartmill and all members of the team who care about the patient experience at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.
Duncan is also a key member of the Love British Hospital Food Group working to promote the use of British produce on hospital menus.
Fellow competitors in the categories are NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Royal Brompton Hospital, Food for Life Scotland, Food Matters, the NHS Food Review Expert Panel and School Food Matters. The winners will be announced at ceremony at the London Hilton Metropole on April 13th.
Paul Featherstone, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Director for Estates and Facilities said “Duncan and the catering team have continued to go from strength in providing outstanding quality for both our patients and our colleagues, and I’m delighted to see this recognised by their shortlisting for this year’s Public Sector Catering Awards 2023. I wish them the best of luck against their worthy competitors at the awards.”