Providing comfort and care with food

The Dietetics and Food Services team goes above and beyond to ensure patients receive tasty and nutritious meals.

The team of 95 staff deliver a comprehensive clinical nutrition service to Caboolture Hospital inpatients and outpatients, as well as providing safe and nutritious food to patients and mental health consumers.

Together, they prepare, cook and deliver more than 1000 meals a day throughout the hospital.

In an unfamiliar and sometimes daunting hospital environment, the Dietetics and Food Services team delivers patients comfort through food while ensuring their nutritional needs are met for a faster recovery.

Caboolture Hospital Director Dietetics and Food Services Michelle Suter said nutritious food is essential to healing and recovery for patients.

“Our team has a range of initiatives in place to ensure all our patients can enjoy their meals as much as possible,” Michelle said.

“For example, many of our patients are required to eat texture modified foods while they recover, which some can find unappealing.

“To help make this food more palatable, food services staff provide texture modified food that is moulded and looks so realistic, we often fool patients, families and new staff!

“In April 2023, we implemented an on-demand room service model for patients on our acute wards.

“This allows patients to order the food they want, when they want it, and avoids
unnecessary food waste.

“So far the model has seen great success and high patient satisfaction.”