Project: Healthy Eating Retail Unit – We’re going greener cafe

Organisation: Countess of Chester (COCH)

What was the issue?

NHS England set out national standards for healthcare food and drink in 2022 which highlighted how not enough healthy food is available for staff, patients and visitors and that sustainability is not embedded into food at hospital sites. Healthy food options that are also sustainable are key to meeting standards for healthcare food and drink and to promote sustainable healthy choices to staff and patients.  

What Action was taken?

In November 2023 the Countess of Chester hospital opened a takeaway food retail unit in the women & children’s building that serves healthy, meat free food options for staff, patients and visitors. Since the opening the food has been very popular with all at the trust. They prepare and cook all fresh food products within their own catering business, which allows them to change the food products based on demand and incorporate ‘seasonal food products’. The unit itself was refurbished with upcycling in mind, with all equipment acquired from within the COCH wider Trust footprint. The in-house Estates re-furbished the interior and exterior and a very local metal fabricator built the logo (Going Greener branding) free of charge. The unit and its equipment is fully transferable, making it totally sustainable for future plans.

What was the Delivering a Net Zero NHS Benefit?

Meat production creates methane which had a higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide (Methane and climate change ) so as this unit at the COCH is plant based the associated emissions are less as well as promoting to staff and patients a less carbon intensive diet. Healthier more seasonal food also reduces carbon as seasonal food is more locally sourced thus, does not have the carbon footprint from transport. The COCH has embedded reuse into their hospital development whilst utilising local contractors which not only reduces costs but carbon as the supplies used are already within the trust’s footprint.

 What are the wider Benefits?

More than 425,000 patients visit the COCH every year (Countess of Chester Hospital ), meaning patients and visitors to the trust will be eating at and walking past food vendors, so being able to promote healthier sustainable food will reach many people and hopefully inspire change. The sustainable development of the unit itself is a great example of what can be achieved within healthcare organisations future development.

Key Contact and Email: Russ Morrow, russ.morrow@nhs.net