HCA National Conference 2011
‘L£AN & green’ is the theme for the HCA’s 2011 National Conference and our Conference will demonstrate how and why we all need to be doing more for less without affecting quality…
Hosted by the Yorkshire Branch, and held on the “right” side of the Pennines in Harrogate, Conference 2011 will be staged within the wonderful surroundings of the recently renovated Royal Hall at Harrogate International Conference Centre and the Majestic Hotel.
We’re looking ahead to what we believe will be the primary issues for 2011 with two action packed days of Sessions, supported by an impressive Trade Exhibition. The key themes for the NHS will be focused on the provision of efficient and cost effective services which should be both ‘L£AN and green’.
From a L£AN perspective, we all know that we are facing significant financial challenges and extremely lean years are ahead. This means we will all be required to be more effective and more efficient, to minimise waste, and do more for less without affecting quality - undoubtedly a tough challenge.
Conference will explore the ‘NHS Lean Improvement Programme’ and how this has been used to demonstrate efficiencies by considering case studies on the productive ward, and the way that this process of releasing time to care can improve the patient meal service. And we will address issues of asset utilisation, and how to maximise income by marketing services, and reduce overall operating costs.
The dictionary definition of “lean” covers a wide range of subjects and links in with other initiatives that we believe will be important to NHS Caterers in 2010/2011, namely, the ‘Boorman Report’ and the ‘Healthier Food Mark’, anticipated to be launched in England in late 2010.
So we’ll explore in detail what this will mean to NHS caterers, and what we need to do to achieve it, also examining the priorities identified in ‘Food 2030’, particularly around the provision of a healthy sustainable diet, reducing both food waste and food miles
Surprisingly it will be 13 years since the Association’s National Conference was held in Harrogate, but I am sure many Delegates will remember the warm welcome and Yorkshire hospitality that they received, as well as Betty’s famous teashop!
We can guarantee that you will be in for a real treat so fill out your form and head to Harrogate on Monday, 7 March to Wednesday, 9 March 2011, for the 63rd Annual National Conference of the Hospital Caterers Association and get ‘L£AN & green’.
Pam Miller
Conference Secretary