Catering Department achieve Eat Safe Award
Issued by NHS Highland
Raigmore Hospital’s Catering Department has been awarded an ‘Eat Safe’ award after an unannounced inspection by Environmental Health found the department to have excellent standards in food hygiene.
The inspection, which took place in November 2012, is an annual visit which not only carries out an audit in terms of food safety but also visits all catering areas to make sure standards are being met.
Interim Support Services Manager Crawford Howat, who is also the Catering Services Manager for the Inverness hospital, is delighted at the accolade.
He said: “We are measured against very strict standards with all areas of the department being visited and staff being asked to show their understanding of food safety and hygiene.
“Food safety and hygiene is taken very seriously by all the staff at all times and I am very pleased that they have been able to demonstrate this and it has been recognised by the inspector.”
To ensure high standards of food hygiene and safety the inspector will look at cleanliness of premises and equipment, ability to demonstrate an effective approach to food safety and being able to show that staff are trained to the correct level.
Mr Howat said: “Samples of food are also taken away for testing and they also passed with flying colours.
“Our Environmental Health Officer was very pleased with the high standards in the department and we were put forward for and awarded an ‘Eat Safe’ award in recognition of excellence in food hygiene and food safety management.
“It’s given a big boost to the department. The staff are very proud of the work they do and I’m pleased it has been recognised in this way.”
Councillor Graham Phillips, chair of TEC Services at The Highland Council said: "I am really pleased to note the excellent hygiene standards being achieved by Raigmore Hospital and congratulate the catering team for their achievement. We now have 38 businesses with the Eatsafe award in the Highlands and I would encourage all food businesses to aim for the high standards of hygiene required to obtain the award. Our local Environmental Health teams can advise and assist businesses aiming for these high standards."