Bonzer
Leads to Successful Catering Operation at
The
Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Following
consecutive years as a 3-star performing trust, The Royal Bournemouth Hospital
gained NHS Foundation Status in 2005.
Located on the outskirts of the town, it is a modern facility that
provides health care for the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch, East
Dorset and part of the New Forest. The
650-bed unit boasts full facilities including a 24-hour emergency department
which admits over 60’000 patients a year.
Such an
operation requires a catering facility that is up to the task and under the
watchful eye of Catering Manager, Terry Reeve, The Royal Bournemouth has
exactly that. Producing over 2200 meals
a day to cater for both the patients and staff, the kitchen is a constant hive
of activity, with a team of 68 staff.
In addition to
the conventional cook/serve style patient catering, Terry also oversees the
onsite deli-bar, tea-bar and staff dining room.
Despite a move to more fresh and frozen ingredients, one area that
continually caused Terry problems was with regards to the opening of cans.
“We
open over 1300 cans every month so if the can opener develops a problem, we
develop a problem with the catering. Our
previous opener would sometimes require the blade to be changed after every 40
cans, that’s almost every day. More
concerning was that if the user put the blade on slightly skewed, shards of
metal could also find their way into the food.
I knew we had do something, and fast.”
When Terry was
at a local trade exhibition, he was introduced to the Bonzer Titanium, at which
point he realised that he had just solved all his problems.
“When
I purchase equipment it is about getting the right tool for the right job. The Bonzer Titan is exactly that. It has a quick release blade system, meaning
that changing the blade it is a fast, simple job that can be completed without
the need for us to call estate management.
Secondly, there is only one way to put the blade in, therefore it is
always straight and eradicates any danger of metal shards entering the
food. Finally, the entire open process
is quicker and cuts down on labour. With
our last opener it could take fourteen turns to open an A10 can, with the
Bonzer Titanium it takes just seven thanks to its larger handle and 40mm cog
wheel. On 1300 cans this equates to
serious time and labour savings.”
The quick
release blade system, as well as the shaft, is placed through the dishwasher
each evening, to ensure that any build up during the day is eradicated
immediately.
“Surprisingly,
the blade area on normal can openers harbours a significant amount of dirt, and
residue build up, which can only properly be removed by changing the blade. The
quick release system allows us to place the entire system in the dishwasher at
the end of each day to eradicate any problem before it has begun.”
To fit in with
the hospitals environmental policy, all the tin cans are recycled, after
washing, therefore it is important for Terry that the opener does not leave a
sharp edge on the cans. In addition, the
fact that Bonzer is made in Britain, fits perfectly with the trusts commitment
to support the national economy.
“Our
intention is always to support the national economy wherever possible, and
therefore Bonzer fits perfectly with this.
The 5 year warranty also gives us the reassurance that if the product
does ever go wrong, there is a support system in place to ensure that we will
have a replacement immediately.”
After spending
35 years in the NHS, 12 of which have been at The Royal Bournemouth, Terry
appreciates that there is a necessity to look at the whole life costs of the
equipment.
“Buying
on price is a false economy. You need to
look at how long you want the equipment to last - Nowadays I would always specify
Bonzer – buying on price is a false economy in the long run.
For further
information on Bonzer please call Mitchell and Cooper on 01825 765511 or visit www.mitchellcooper.co.uk
