Stepping Hill Hospital’s catering team have retained their status as one of the top NHS catering sites in the country, following a recent grading. 

The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust team continue their status as an ‘exemplar site’ as part of an ongoing NHS scheme to improve hospital food standards across the country, and set standards for others to follow. 

They have been awarded with a certificate from NHS England confirming their status for the next two years.

They are one of a small number of teams across England, and the only one in Greater Manchester, to be chosen for the honour.

The team provide food both for inpatients across the site, and also the hospital restaurant which provides for staff, outpatients and visitors.

The team showed their high standards in areas including hygiene, nutritional value, healthy options, response to patient feedback , and support and training for colleagues.

They were also recommended for the diversity and choice they offer for both patients and visitors. The team organise a number of themed meals based on celebrations and events, and promote them on social media as well.

They have won a number of regional and national awards in recent years recognising their high quality and standards, including Health Estates and Facilities Management Association (HEFMA) awards, North West Hospital Caterers Association awards, and the Public Sector Catering Awards.

In 2022, two then-Assistant Head Chefs Erica Bell and Shelley Pearson-Smith were named as NHS Chefs of the Year following the first nation-wide competition run by NHS England.

Following their presentation NHS England described the team as ‘truly exemplary’, with a true passion for the importance of food and hydration for patients.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Support Services Manager (Catering) Erica Bell said “Everyone in the team is really enormously proud we have retained our title of ‘exemplar status’ for our services. It really is a team effort from all of us to ensure we keep up our high standards and its very heartening to be recognised in this way. We will continue to work to live up to our standards and deliver the best food for our patients, staff and visitors.”