BY IAN NOBLE News Reporter A RECENT report outlining the problems with Lions Gate Hospital’s cook-chill system cites hundreds of thousands of dollars in waste and confirms complaints about hos- pital food quality. However, there is a positive side, said one hospital food worker. At least now manage- ment is doing something about the new services probleins. Under the system imple- * mented in June 1995, much of Lions Gate’s food is cooked and chilled at Burnaby Hospital. The food is then delivered to Lions Gate where it.is put on plates and served. “ Kut patients . immediately - voiced concems about food quality problems when the new system was instituted. In her April report, Shirley Power, the LGH director of nutrition services, acknowl- edged “the most obvious prob- lem product is the food, the quality of which is of a mini- mal standard but tacks consis- tency.” She laid out a 12-month quality control plan to tackle the probieias and improve the hospital's food. ‘The report’s executive sum- mary states that on June 20, 1995, the hospital's nutrition services department under- went four major transitions that included terminating on- site food preparation and “down-sizing” by 30 long- term staff. Power said the intended outcomes of an overly opti- mistic transition budget have not been realized. In the 1995-96 fiscal year, which ended in March, labor costs and food and food-relat- ed costs were higher than in 1994-95, before the cook-chill method was introduced. In addition, labor costs were 38% over budget in 1995-96 and food and food- related costs 60% over budget. Problems leading to the higher costs include fragment- ed and outdated department procedures, equipment mal- functions, and an outdated menu ticket system. Power added that in few if any cases does the nutrition services department evaluate its performance to determine if actions result in intended out- comes. Product and labor waste from the lack of follow- through is estimated to exceed $400,000, with $255,000 of that in non-salary costs and $144,500 in salary costs. She called for a clear and objective system that outlines minimum food product requirements, evaluates the food received against those standards and provides a reso- lution process for consumers and suppliers as soon as possi- bie. ‘Cost deal coniusion arose a From page 1 Gate to renovate its kitchen. The Ioan, said Best, was to be paid’ back © out of operating - funds. .» The: cook-chill method - ‘allows most Lions Gate food ‘to be cooked in Burnaby and _", then put on plates and served at ‘". Lions Gate. Best said Lions Gate’s _ understanding. was. that it - would pay .the “incremental” _ difference between the costs of “MONARCH ~ PURNITURE ANNEX fF | BARGAINS : a See our... Clearance Centre. - - Designer Furniture Under Cost! MONARCH 7375 Kingsway 876-2201 Burnaby’s food and the totai cost of Burnaby’s and Lions Gate’s food. That would mean Burnaby Hospital would pick up the fixed costs of food preparation. said Best, Burnaby Hospital's interpretation was that the two hospitals would share the total cost ona percentage basis. The food sharing started in June 1995, but it was not until November or October that the two hospitals realized they had ‘interpreted the deal differently, said Best. She added that shar-- ing costs would make sense for Lions Gate only after it had paid back the loan, which will take three years. al Insurance or Fast ter claim settlements ¥* Safe drivers pay less / 2nd car discounts yw Cornpletely independent Auto Insurance we Monthly payments asa C RU | ouR OFFER: Ho Aug 18 H « Sept. 09 S * Sept. 22 S «Nov, 07 H + Nov. 20 H «Jan. 10 H + fan. 28 * Air Add-Ons apply H- Crystal Harmony §- Crystal Symphony 7. days 28 days Vancouver-Beljing 15 days - Beijing-Hong Kong 12 days Athens-Istanbul . 12 days Barbados-Acapulco 14 days Singapore-Sydney Los Angeles-Acapulco 52096 12 days New Orleans-Acapulco $3299 1S ‘ES , $us PRICE FROM 5999 +4999 5048 2463 54199 INSURANCE BROKERS ff SBILLINGS ast. 1906 Mon.-Sat. E 988-1148) Power recommended quali- ty assurance and management systems be developed and fully iinplemented within a year. A hospital employee. who had complained in August of the quality of cook-chill food, said Thursday the food hasn't improved, but management's attempts to solve the problems have. “They are really working on it,” said the employee. “For the first time, | see something positive happening about it.” The News has received numerous letters penned by patients complaining about the poor quality of Lions Gate Hospital's food. flaw would you Uke to make tie mtn iteate healthier without s TA Brew ay the use of pesticides an your lawn chemicals can be poisonous to ry pollute our sod, water, and air. aniuiate inthe tood-chain and eventially cause lias te birds, fish, arnt other wildlife. For distance, Diedtss that eat pesticlde-tredted insects are koown to lay abnormal ¢; whe it ris or whet you waler your lawn. pestckic tesidues seep into the soll and poltute the groundwater, Or they + enter sewer systems and eveatunly make thelr way into lakes and uvers, where they pose a thieat to fish and other aquatic wildlife, By not using pesticiics, you may have to work a fittic harder te aveld Infestations. But you'll be helping to reduce the risk of truaadis and wihilite hei ing, expoved to these dangerous chenl- cals. Here ate a few ways to inatnitain a healthy law ved warden without using pesticides: * Pick infested leaves off trees and shrubs by hand and dispose of them. * Uslig a gacden hose, spray a strom stream of water on trees and shrubs i dislodge insects. * if nevesmiry, use biodegradable insecticides derived from natural sources. These are available at most organic nurscries. ort bicd feeders In your yar, Bieds are a nutural form of insect control. Ce 25 Daniel Jarvis, | When the Legislature reconvenes in the next few days, [ will tell Premier Clark that enough is enough. In 4-1/2 years, the NDP have | raised the tax burden on B.C. families by an average ‘of $2,900." Under the NDP, taxes have grown 5 times faster than Personal: incomes. I believe it’s time to provide B.C . families and businesses with Q some tax relief, to leave a little more money in your pockets. But, { also want to hear from you. Please call me, Daniel Jarvis, at 984-2692. Daniel arvis MLA North Vancouver ~ Seymour | ‘Thomas Cook Travel: at Eaton's Park Royal . BONUS FEATURES prepaid gratuities $100 shipboard credit {Tt person Fly Hotel Free Pk (does not 299 3 nts. in Beijing Snts. in Beijing category upgrade Wu penthouse) 2 category upgrade GC Marlin Travel Park Royal South . 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