News
Cairns Private Hospital’s new contemporary menu goes digital
Mar 26, 2020
iPads are being used to take patient meal orders in a first for Cairns Private Hospital, reducing kitchen paper consumption by 60 per cent.
Patients can view menus on the iPads which are taken into their rooms before mealtimes. Orders are then sent straight to the hospital kitchen which helps to improve efficiency and reduce paper waste.
Catering manager, Rohan Ekanayaka, said: “Previously, hospital patients filled out paper menus, but their orders now come to a central computer which we use to collate all the details for kitchen production. It is great for everyone.”
The changes coincide with the roll-out of the hospital’s new contemporary menu which now includes different international cuisines.
Mr Ekanayaka designed the menu based around multiple requests from patients for different meals. Some of the new items include:
- Grilled chicken with ratatouille
- Butter chicken
- Vegetable tagine
- Soba noodle salad
- Oriental beef salad
“After the menu was introduced, I went to see the patients to see what the feedback was and it was very positive, so it is a good start for the menu,” Mr Ekanayaka said.
The catering manager has extensive experience in designing menus and is about to celebrate 20 years working for Cairns Private Hospital. He oversees the service of more than 360 meals each day, which are all allergy tested and approved by a dietitian.
“The menu is not only healthy for patients, but it caters for all dietary requirements so we can serve the main menu to most of our patients,” Mr Ekanayaka said.
