Hospital gives patients high cuisine

You do not just get great treatment at Epworth Geelong – you get great food as well.

In fact, patients have started comparing the Victorian private hospital to a high-end hotel.

"After two hip replacements at Epworth Geelong I can attest to their delicious cuisine. That is just ANOTHER reason I refer to it as the Epworth Hotel," Julie Matthews wrote on Facebook in response to news the facility had revamped its menu.

Epworth Geelong's food services team has replaced 12 items with new meals including a Thai beef salad, chicken pot pie, lamb korma curry, a signature Epworth burger, mushroom and truffle-infused risotto, and an ancient grain salad with pomegranate molasses.

It is also planning to expand the culinary experience for vegetarians, vegans and people with special dietary conditions such as gluten intolerance.

Head Chef Mark Parsons, who has worked in the hospital kitchen for seven years, said changing the menu was more involved than doing so in a restaurant.

"I have worked as a chef for 30 years throughout England, Europe, South Africa and Australia, and creating a menu for a hospital is very unique," Mr Parsons said.

"Every meal is planned in close consultation with dieticians at Epworth, taking into account dietary restrictions and food allergies to ensure patient safety."

Epworth Geelong's 64-strong team of chefs, food service assistants and room hosts serve up to 900 meals and snacks daily.

Patients order their meals from in-room touch-screens, which have their individual food restrictions pre-loaded, so only safe menu choices are available to order.

Patients and carers helped a group of nine chefs to shape the new menu, giving valuable feedback on their dining experience throughout the year.

Mr Parsons says every dish was tested under strict hospital conditions.

"You eat with your eyes. We might come up with a meal that looks fantastic when it is dished up in the kitchen, but if it doesn't look the same when it arrives to the patient it won't make our menu," he said.

Read more: Hospital solves kitchen dilemma

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