Sodexo Health & Care has reinforced its enduring partnership with Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, securing an eight-year extension to its patient dining contract after a competitive tender process.
Philip Leigh, Chief Executive of Sodexo UK & Ireland Health & Care, noted that Sodexo has worked with Chesterfield Royal Hospital for almost three decades, providing high-quality catering services alongside Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services (DSFS), the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary.
“The new contract, which began on April 1st this year, is valued at £24.8m and will take the partnership to 33 years by the end of the term. We know that good food and nutrition play a vital role in the patient journey, supporting recovery, improving wellbeing, and enhancing the overall experience.
“This extended partnership with Chesterfield Royal Hospital gives us a valuable opportunity to further develop the dining offer. Working closely with DSFS and the Trust, we are committed to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that meet the diverse needs of patients.”
The renewed contract will see Sodexo provide a combination of Apetito meals and freshly prepared in-house dishes, along with an extensive selection of special diets designed to accommodate various dietary needs, cultural preferences, and religious considerations. Meals are prepared in the hospital’s central production kitchen, delivered to wards via specialist regeneration trolleys, and served by DSFS personnel.
As part of the refreshed service, a new inpatient menu was introduced in May, including two new options aimed at improving the dining experience for patients with specific nutritional requirements.
One new option is a finger food range, tailored to promote independence and dignity, especially for individuals with dementia, offering familiar, easy-to-eat dishes.
The other is a high-energy mini meal range for patients with smaller appetites or higher nutritional needs, delivering essential nutrients in manageable portions to aid recovery.
Patient Service Assistants are undergoing training and sampling sessions to guarantee the new meals are handled and served effectively, supporting a high-quality dining experience on the wards.
Kim Beevers, assistant director of facilities at DSFS added: “We are delighted to continue working with Sodexo on our patient food and dining offer.
“Here at Chesterfield Royal Hospital we know how important nutritious and tasty food is to our patients, and how it can support and aid recovery, as well as improving overall health and wellbeing. We also know how proud our colleagues are to serve great food, catering to patients with different preferences and diets.
“We are really looking forward to hearing from our patients and colleagues on what we can change to improve our offer and working with Sodexo to make those changes that really benefit our patients and improve their catering and dining experience when being cared for in our hospital.”