Canadian hospitals ponder big-name food vendors

BELLEVILLE, Ontario — Quinte Health Care administrators are proposing a switch from cafeterias to big-name food franchises in its three southern hospitals.

They presented the idea this week in meetings with unions, which have one month to study the concepts and suggest alternatives.

Vice-president Jeff Hohenkerk told The Intelligencer the change, if implemented, would halt the Belleville, Trenton and Picton cafeterias’ combined annual losses of $85,000 and start making money – and without any job losses.

“We’re not closing the cafeterias,” Hohenkerk said. “It’s just a new food-service model.”

He said the proposal is based not only on profit but in improving service by offering healthier choices and extended hours for evening and night shifts. Staff have requested such changes, he said.

Hohenkerk said it could involve bringing in “very popular brands” to sell food in all hospitals but North Hastings, which has no cafeteria.

“We have been subsidizing the cafeterias for at least eight years,” senior communications director Susan Rowe said.

She said recruiting big brands is “certainly something we’ve investigated in the past.” She said that’s happened at least three times but without proceeding, the reasons for which weren’t clear Friday.

Such a change would mean the cafeterias’ combined total of three full-time and three part-time staff would be reassigned elsewhere in QHC’s food services department. She noted it has enough vacancies.

“They can be reassigned to any position where they have the skills and training within the same union,” said Rowe.

Unifor Local 8300 president Jake Gibson expressed apprehension about QHC’s proposals, including that involving his members in food services.

“I’m pretty sure these are all set in stone,” Gibson said, explaining he was skeptical any union counterproposals would gain traction.

He had claimed cafeterias would be closed and questioned the use of third-par providers of hospital services.

Hospital officials were