Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised as North West Hospital Caterers’ Association (HCA) Hospital of the Year, celebrating the outstanding achievements of its catering team in their continuous commitment to the care and wellbeing of staff and patients and sustainability initiatives.
The award recognises the work of the Catering Department across Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, which has demonstrated a commitment to improving patient experience, reducing environmental impact and investing in its people.
Over the past year, the team has achieved a series of significant milestones, including becoming the first NHS catering department in the country to receive a Gold Award for its food waste data reporting.
The department has also been recognised with a Bronze Food for Life Served Here award from the Soil Association, reflecting its commitment to sourcing healthy, sustainable food.
The team has secured Government funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, helping to replace ageing fossil fuel systems and further reduce the Trust's carbon footprint while enhancing catering facilities and services.
Patient experience has remained at the heart of the department's work, with initiatives including the introduction of blue coloured plates which increased consumption of patient meals and cut food waste, leading to carbon and financial savings, while there is an ongoing commitment to removing single-use plastics from catering operations.
The department has also worked closely with supply chain partners and procurement teams to ensure best value and high-quality products, while collaborating with industry leaders to modernise kitchen facilities. Innovative projects such as the development of a click-and-collect service for patients, visitors and staff have further enhanced the catering offer across Trust sites.
Throughout the year, the team has embraced diversity and community engagement, hosting themed events celebrating Ramadan, Diwali and St George's Day, as well as supporting charitable initiatives and fundraising activities.
The award comes following a challenging year that included organisational change, financial pressures and recruitment restrictions. Despite these challenges, the catering team continued to deliver high-quality food services without disruption, consistently going above and beyond for patients, staff and visitors.
A key part of the department's success has been its commitment to workforce development. Team members are currently undertaking a range of apprenticeships, including Level 6 Facilities Management and Level 5 Operational Management qualifications, alongside Level 4 Food Safety training and specialist skills development opportunities.
Trust Catering Manager Andrew Dunne said: "We are incredibly proud to receive the Hospital of the Year award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion of every member of our catering team. Their commitment to delivering excellent patient care, embracing innovation and driving sustainability improvements has been outstanding. Despite a challenging year, they have continued to put patients and colleagues first, and this award is thoroughly deserved."
Delia Dawson, Facilities Compliance Manager, who submitted the nomination, added: "The team consistently goes above and beyond to support patients, staff and visitors. Their achievements in sustainability, waste reduction, staff development and service innovation demonstrate the positive difference they make every day. This award recognises the dedication and resilience shown by the entire team."
