Hawke’s Bay DHB becomes first to decline national food contract

MIL OSI – Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – ASMS – Hawke’s Bay DHB becomes first to decline national food contract Hawke’s Bay District Health Board has become the first to refuse to join a national food service being offered by Crown-owned company Health Benefits Limited (HBL).  HBL was set up in 2010 to save money by combining the purchasing power of health boards and negotiating single contracts with suppliers.  At the DHB’s Board meeting, staff told the Board there were concerns about the business case, that it might jeopardise food quality, offered little financial benefit, would have a negative impact on food suppliers, and would result in eight job losses at the DHB.  The full article can be read here. Meanwhile, Labour’s health spokesperson, Annette King, says the Government has been left with egg on its face following the Hawke’s Bay DHB decision.  She says doing away with local kitchens by contracting services to hubs operated by a multinational catering company was a crazy idea from the get-go: http://campaign.labour.org.nz/hospital_food_plan_hits_another_snag. – -]]>