Greater Manchester hospital catering teams go 'Back to the Future' to mark NHS 60th anniversary

Date published: 30/06/2008

Pennine Acute Trust runs Bury’s Fairfield General Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary.

The catering teams at all of the hospitals are preparing special dishes to mark the anniversary.

Special individual 60th anniversary cakes will be given to patients on Sunday, 6 July. On Monday, 7 July, a special menu for patients will have options including carrot and coriander soup and chocolate sponge with fresh cream.

Meanwhile, the hospital restaurants are also marking the anniversary in style on Monday, 7 July.

At Fairfield, there will be a return to 1948 favourites, with black pudding hotpot being served up at the Broad Oak Suite.

At The Royal Oldham Hospital, the Cafe Royal will have poached salmon and bubble ‘n’ squeak.

Chicken chasseur will be served up at Rochdale Infirmary, where the team recently won the Hospital Caterers’ Association’s Service of the Year Award.

And North Manchester General Hospital will have roast beef and Yorkshire pudding at The Gallery.

Pam Miller, Associate Director of Facilities for Pennine Acute Trust, said: “Everyone really relished coming up with something a little out of the ordinary to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS.

“We’ve got everything from putting on the Ritz to our versions of everyday meals from sixty years ago.

“We’re sure that all of the special dishes will go down well, but the normal menu items will be there too.”

Meanwhile, all babies born at the four hospitals on 5 July will receive official certificates marking the event.

The celebrations don’t stop there, with history projects due to be launched shortly at each hospital, culminating in displays in December.

The hospitals have also recently started ’60 for 60’ fundraising campaigns, which are encouraging schools, businesses and individuals to raise 60p, £6 or £60 for their local hospital to help mark the anniversary. More information is available from Jan Bolton, Charitable Fundraising Manager, on 0161 908 4497 or email jan.bolton@pat.nhs.uk