The Sunrise Health Region (SHR) has announced it intends to consolidate food and nutrition services in Canora as a part of a budget saving measure.
SHR approved a balanced budget of $186,986,521 for the period of April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 however, in order to achieve this objective, adjustments of $2.86 million are required.
One of the initiatives to achieve a balanced budget is to consolidate the food and nutrition services for Canora Gateway Lodge and Canora Hospital. Through this initiative, the SHR reports, food and nutrition service production will be centralized to the Canora Gateway Lodge. Canora Gateway Lodge is the best option for this centralization as the bulk of the meals prepared will be consumed by residents in that facility.
Past consolidation of food and nutrition services has been successful in the Sunrise Health Region's Yorkton facilities.
The Canora facilities will continue to follow the SHR menu and there will be no change in the method of food preparation or the nutritional content and quality of the food provided.
Bulk hot food will be portioned into inserts, held in mobile insulated containers and dispatched to Canora Hospital just prior to each meal service. The kitchen at the Canora Hospital will remain open and continue to operate without any food production on-site, other than preparation of toast and beverages for patients prior to meal times.
By centralizing the food and nutrition services in Canora facilities, the SHR reports it is able to reduce costs while continuing to provide quality meal options for patients and residents.
The centralization will result in some staffing reductions, the equivalent of two full-time positions. The centralized kitchen in Canora Gateway Lodge is intended only to provide services to Canora facilities and does not include any further centralization in the health region.
Savings from this consolidation will be approximately $100,000 each year.
