ISS Healthcare has been awarded a contract to provide retail and patient catering for Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).
KMPT is one of the largest mental health trusts in England and provides mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and forensic services across the area of Kent and Medway to a population of 1.7 million people.
The new service will cover sites in Canterbury, Dartford, Maidstone, Margate and Sittingbourne. The tender process was run by the London Procurement Partnership and the contract started in September for an initial five-year period.
Food is an essential part of the well-being of patients and staff. All sites will move towards a consistent delivered meal service using the latest cook freeze technology, using menus that have been jointly developed and subject to review twice a year. Collaborative working at ward level will guarantee that the patients' experience is enhanced.
Chris Ash, managing director of ISS Healthcare, said: "We look forward to welcoming the catering team into the ISS family. This exercise was particularly heart-warming as the trust has clearly embraced the thoughts and opinions of their stakeholders.
Teresa Barker, deputy director of nursing and practice at KMPT, said: "KMPT set out to appoint a catering service partner that listened clearly to our requirements, quickly understood the importance we place on providing our patients, staff, carers and visitors with good quality food options, and present this in a way that offers flexibility in menus, sustainability, and efficiency. We look forward to working together."