{ “rope LGH kitchen conversion to save millions, says CEO LIONS GATE Hospital will lose af feast 24 jobs in its kitchens when it contracts food preparation services out to Burnaby Hospital next year, By Kate Zimmerman News Reporter The move is expected to save $3 million in renovation costs to two hospital kitchens and a cafeteria, As LGH switches from food cooked on the premises to a cook-and-chill foed production partnership with Burnaby Hospital. the Jocal hospital atiticipates a saving of $806,000 in annual operating costs. The conversion is expected to be complete by March 1995, The change was not motivated by concerns ubout food quality. “There's nothing wrong with the food at all,” said LGH president and CEO Bob Smith. "What we have is an old physical plant.” Smith said the hospital moved toward a “muster plan” in the late {980s which would have seen its own kitchens adopt the caok-cnill method favored by airlines. But the required funding for ren- ovations — a projected $6.4 million — was nat available from the provincial or municipal govern- ments. He believes the provincial gav- ernment will lend LGH the required $3 trillion to pair up with Burnaby on the new food production tech- nique. Meals would be cooked and chilled in Burnaby and then brought in bulk to LGH, where they would he “plated” and heated for patients. Smith said cook-chill operations can be an efficient way to prepare and distribute food. He said ane cuok-chill operation in Ouawa serves 1 1G sites. “It's quite commion in Europe.” he suid. “PE euess we're just catching up. The staff reduction should allow LGH the funds to repay the zovern- ments loan within three veurs. Smith said. LGH Nutrition Services current- ly hus a staff of £27 “futl-Gme equivalents” (meaning that the hours of part-lime and full-time employees add up to those of 117 full-time employees). Smith said oniy 24 of those fall- time equivalent positions would be terminated. But this could amount euygeren GH het i Fans HeLa sees REACHI NG EVERY DOOR ON THE ACFET HY AID as pemeaigtst che ae paeae ws ) oe, (atu Office, Editorial 985-2131 ADH ALTE We Display Advertising 980-0511 WEST END GIRL West Van's Janele Woodiey trek to Tororite for Juno awards corny Classifieds 986-6222 NEWS photo Terry Peters BAKER DAVID Elphick and other Lions Gate Hospital workers will lose their kitchen jobs as the hospital converts its food service operation. For LGH staff reaction, see stcry on page three. to many part-time emplosees. And some staff menthers will be ented fo “hump? other workers with fess semority on the job, “Just about evervbods in the departnent will be teipacted in one way Oroamother by this change” Smith admitted. He said the hospital will attempt to find alternate employment for ils stall through the eatting collective agreement. and the Health Labour Adjustnent Agency. The announcement took the three unions serving the Laos Gate by surprise. “Lions Gate is the eae NM SUS Henan Sas largest cmpleyer on the North Shore and this ts a det af bodies.” sud) Kathleen Anderson, vice-chair or Lil. Hospital Emplovees” Union. “Theres a dotaf young people down there and YOS of them are part-time” she sard)= Anderson peg RTI IRISH TOAST Keep the frish spirit ative and kicking on J St Patrick's Day. added that the union was particalar- Jy concerned that half the potential- Iv affecired employees are single parents, She said news of the hospital's decision ts particularly disappoint- ing since there had been talk of Nutritton Services functioning as a commissary for the eight long-term cure facilities on the North Shore. According to Anderson, LGH's food has received positive reviews from patients and staff) She said that Nutrition Services employees are proud of their work. But Anderson acknowledged that the two kitchens, in the main building and in Evergreen House. are several decades old und geting cramped. They serve 700 meals a day, seven days a week, When the air conditioning broke down last sum- mer, conditions were so unbearable that the staff almost walked out. “There's a certain amount of urgency in the kitchen,” Anderson noted, “tis unsafe in spots.” Smith said the kitchens could have been “nursed along” for some ume. but if they were to continue serving the hospital’s needs, major renovations were inevitable, index @ A Day in Court... Budget Beaters........46 AD BUSINESS... essere BD Classified. 4B Dong Collins. we Crossword Si Inquiring Reporter.......... & insights . @ Kids’ Stutfe i. Lifestyles... pete AZ BEM ai DON ce ceeeeeeeee News of the Weird... Narth Shore Naw... BD SPOMS. cnn IS TY Listings... beeeseeeee 33 What's Going On.......42 Nouh Wright Weather Tharsdiy. mostly cloudy v showers, windy, High 10° Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement Number 0087238