New hospital food on the way

VIHA new food service gives patients a choice of what they want to eat

Patients in Victoria will soon have more control over their hospital experiences when they’ll be able to order their meal off a menu of 20 items.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority plans to implement the Steamplicity food preparation and delivery model last week. The system is based on steam pressure cooking fresh or flash frozen foods in a microwave.

“Nutrition plays a key role in patients’ recovery and we are very pleased to be able to offer this new, high quality product to them,” said Don Hubbard, VIHA board chair in a press release.

Steamplicity comes at a $790,000-per-year increase from VIHA’s current food costs. Royal Jubilee will switch to the new system by November and Victoria General Hospital will switch over in early 2012.

nnorth@saanichnews.com

Saanich News