"Hospital food"

Dear giftqd83,

Thank you for taking the time to write to us with your concerns about our use of plastic packaging and our meals, we value all feedback and want to assure you we are invested in the health, wellness and viability of the communities we serve and committed to ensuring the future of country WA. As such we have recently become members of the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Initiative, aiming to reduce our environmental footprint.

In September 2019 we established a Waste Management Committee who are exploring options for reducing waste and recycling for all of our sites and will undertake waste audits to drive this process forward. A range of non-plastic alternatives such as reusable water cups, paper straws and pill cups having been introduced across Geraldton Hospital with staff working towards introducing reusable serving-ware whilst ensuring we meet food safety and infection control requirements. Your story is being used to expedite the process for introducing these changes, particularly the plans to implement reusable containers for dessert options.

Our menu is guided by the WA Health Nutrition Standards for Adult Inpatients in WA Hospitals which ensures that the requirements for the average person are met for energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. There is a variety of menu options available, with a dedicated vegetarian menu and vegetarian sandwich options and the ability to choose serving sizes. Where needed menus can be modified to support consumers with additional nutritional requirements and health needs. We aim to continually improve the quality of our meals and your feedback will be provided to our catering staff and onsite Dietitian who undertakes a monthly meal audit to ensure standards are met. Additionally, our dietitian convenes a staff and consumers group to taste test meals.

I thought I would let you know that our service has a Facebook page, My Healthy Midwest, which is for for people living in the Midwest region of WA, who are interested in leading a healthier and happier lifestyle and wish to keep up to date on health happenings in their community. Like this page to stay up to date with the latest health information, campaigns, programs and events happening in the Midwest, including updates on our green initiatives which will be posted in the future. https://www.facebook.com/myhealthymidwest/

If you would like to discuss your concerns further please contact me on liz.kelly@health.wa.gov.au or 9956 2291. Thank you again for your story and I hope your recovery is going well.

Kind Regards,

Liz

A/Coordinator Executive Services