Canadian hospital closes cafeteria to save money

UPPER NAPPAN—Cafeteria services at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre will come to a conclusion at the end of September.

The Cumberland Health Authority confirmed Wednesday the retail sale of food to staff and the public at the regional hospital is being discontinued.

“This decision was not an easy one, however, retail food sales are not a core business of the health authority,” CHA spokeswoman Ann Keddy said. “Over the past number of years, sales have not been able to support the operation of the cafeteria and it has been subsidized by other hospital operations.”

The decision, Keddy said, is part of the CHA’s mitigation plan to meet its $1.3-million budgetary shortfall for the 2014-15 fiscal year and has been approved by the Health and Wellness Department.

Keddy said the change will not impact the preparation of meals for patients at the hospital and meals will continue to be prepared on-site by staff in the dietary department.