Public Servant Lifestyle

Gartnavel General Hospital Staff Dining Room is the first establishment in Glasgow to achieve the highest level of recognition in the Scottish Healthy Choices Award.

Funded by the Scottish Executive, the scheme is a prestigious national healthy eating award for caterers, open to all catering establishments from sandwich bars, schools, and workplaces to five- star hotels. It is managed by the Scottish Consumer Council in partnership with the Health Education Board for Scotland.

There are two levels of the award: 'Commended' and 'Highly Commended'.

In addition, there are four main conditions to each level of award.

These are:

1: Provision and promotion of healthy food choices.

2: High standards of food safety hygiene & management.

3: Respect for breastfeeding mothers.

4: Provision of no-smoking areas.

In the last year, the Gartnavel staff have worked very hard to achieve the 'Highly Commended' level of the Awards, adapting their menus to meet the criteria, in particullar by incorporating a large selection of fruit and vegetables, which are available, every day, from 7.30am - 7.30pm, to the Dining Room's 500 regular customers.

At an unusual presentation ceremony, the Dining Room catering staff were awarded with both the 'Commended' and 'Highly Commended' Certificates by Ronnie Cleland, chairman of North Glasgow NHS Trust, which opoerates the hospital.

In attendance were Joy Farquharson - health promotion officer (Nutrition) and Greater Glasgow area award assessor - and Liz Corbett, Head of Food Safety, Glasgow City Council (representing the environmental health aspect of the Award Scheme and explaining that the standards required for the Award scheme are very difficult to meet, and the staff should therefore be proud of their achievements).

To mark the occasion, the Dining Room staff served up a special promotional menu on offer for customers. There was also competitions held to promote 'Healthy Choices', a cross word competition with the prize of a cookery book and word search competition with a prize of a fruit basket.

Other public service organisation award-winners include:

- Four of the Scottish Executive's staff restaurants in Edinburgh - at St Andrews House, Victoria Quay, Pentland House and Saughton House (Commended).

- Perth Royal Infirmary Staff Restaurant, Tayside (Commended).

- Ailsa Courtyard Restaurant, Alisa Hospital, Dalmellington Road, Ayr (Highly Commended).

- Arran War Memorial Hospital, Lamlash, Isle Of Arran (Commended).

- Ayr Hospital Staff Dining Room, Ayr (Highly Commended).

- Ayrshire Central Hospital Staff Dining Room, Irvine (Highly Commended).

- Biggart Hospital, Prestwick (Highly Commended).

- Brooksby House Hospital Staff Dining Room, Largs (Commended).

- Crosshouse Hospital Staff Dining Room, Kilmarnock (Highly Commended).

- Davidson Cottage Hospital Staff Dining Room, Girvan (Commended).

- Kirklandside Hospital Staff Dining Room, Kilmarnock (Commended).

- Lady Margaret Hospital Staff Dining Room, Millport, Isle Of Cumbrae (Commended).

- Queen Margaret Hospital Staff Restaurant (Sodexho Catering), Dunfermline (Commended).

- Victoria Hospital Staff Restaurant (Sodexho Catering), Kirkcaldy (Commended).

- Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary Site, Majors Loan, Falkirk (Commended).

- Falkirk Council Municipal Buildings Staff Restaurant, Falkirk (Commended).

- Royal Scottish National Hospital Site, Larbert (Commended).

- Scottish Prison Service College, Brightons, Falkirk (Commended).

- Stirling University - Roberto's, MacRobert Building, Stirling (Commended).

- Stirling University - Stir Café, Mac Robert Building, Stirling (Commended).

- Sodexho at Faculty of Management student canteen, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (Highly Commended).

- Sodexho at Scott Sutherland School student canteen, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen (Highly Commended).

- HM Prison Low Moss, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow (Commended).

- Langside College Main Campus - Eurest Catering, Glasgow (Commended).

- The Chef's Hat Dining Room, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow (Commended).

- University of Strathclyde, The Lord Todd Restaurant, Weaver Street, Glasgow (Commended).

- Yorkhill Hospital NHS Trust, Dalnair Street, Glasgow (Commended).

- The Staff Dining Room, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness (Commended).

- ISS Mediclean at Hairmyres Hospital Restaurant, Eaglesham Road, East Kilbride (Commended).

- Heriot-Watt University - Catering & Residences, Riccarton Campus, Edinburgh (Commended).

- HM Prison, Edinburgh (Commended).

- Liberton Hospital Staff Dining Room, Lasswade Road, Edinburgh (Commended).

- Lothian & Borders Police HQ, Edinburgh (Commended).

- Napier University, Edinburgh (Commended).

- Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh (Commended).

- Western Isles Hospital Dining Room, Macaulay Road, Stornoway (Highly Commended).

More information available in Incentives & Rewards