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Message from the 2012 National Conference Secretary, Stella Gardener

[Published in the HCA Journal – December 2011]

As another year draws to a close, here at ‘Mission control’ in Wessex, the hub of planning for the 2012 National Conference, we feel we might be able to relax a little over the Christmas festivities happy in the knowledge that our plans for next April’s event are progressing well.

But before we enter the holiday period, I’m delighted to be able to provide you with an overview of the Conference Programme, which - apart from a few finer details - is almost complete.

As you will see on the following pages, we have designed the 2012 Programme to inform, educate and provide guidance, techniques and tools in abundance to help us ‘Accept the Challenge - Feed the Future’.

And I think you’ll agree that we have secured some excellent Guest Speakers - ranging from key policy makers and leading experts from the NHS and industry right through to the world of politics and entertainment. Each will bring their specific knowledge, skills and expertise to the Conference podium for what we guarantee will be a highly stimulating, lively and topical two days.

One of my personal highlights of Conference 2012 will be hearing what our Keynote Speaker, Edwina Currie, has to say about the present situation facing the NHS.

Never one to shy away from a good debate or from expressing her views passionately about a cause she feels strongly about, she is guaranteed to provide us with an energetic, inspirational - and no doubt entertaining - start to the proceedings. To learn more about Edwina - see her Biog on page 17.

Booking

There’s only four months to go until we meet up in Reading so if you haven’t done so already, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you once again to make your reservations to attend Conference 2012 as soon as possible. Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and we know from our visits to Branch Meetings in recent months that many of you have expressed your intentions to be there - but you may not yet have got round to submitting your booking!

So, in a seasonal gesture of goodwill to the hardworking Members of the Conference Committee, why don’t you log on to www.hospitalcaterers.org/conference/conference-booking.php NOW and you’ll find everything you need to secure your attendance without leaving your desk. You really can’t afford to miss this important event in the annual HCA calendar.

Poster Challenge

The interactive element of Conference 2012 is considerable, so please remember to submit your entries for the Conference 2012 Poster Challenge. It’s a fantastic opportunity for you to ‘broadcast’ and ‘share’ your ‘best practice’ projects and success stories at Conference, highlighting the superb work that is going on in your Catering departments around the country.

All the information about the Poster Challenge - and everything else to do with Conference - can be found on the HCA Conference website. So keep visiting the site as it’s updated regularly.

And finally, a very Happy Christmas and New Year to you and your families from all of us on the 2012 Conference Committee.

Message from the 2012 National Conference Secretary, Stella Gardener

[Published in the HCA Journal – October 2011]

I’m delighted to report that plans for the HCA Conference 2012 at Wokefield Park, Reading, next April, are shaping up well and here at the Wessex Conference Committee headquarters we’re looking forward to a fantastic event.

Since my last posting, the Conference Committee has been journeying far and wide to extend a personal invitation to HCA Branch Members to attend next year’s event. And the reception we have received so far - and the interest shown - has been really encouraging.

I had the pleasure of joining HCA Members of the South West Thames Branch at one of their meetings, held during a cruise along the River Thames (See Hospital Caterer, June 2010 Branch News). Then I travelled up to Newcastle to meet our Northern Branch Members, while Committee Members Denise Richardson headed to a Trent Branch meeting and Scott Jones visited the Oxford Branch. And Simon Willars and Adrian Domagala joined Members of the West of England Branch at one of their meetings.

They all tell me they were met with much enthusiasm for their visits and a lot of interest has been expressed in Conference 2012 so far - which I’m delighted about - especially as it gives me another opportunity to remind you to book early to avoid disappointment, as all bookings are being taken on a first come first served basis.

We’ve got plans to meet many more of you at Branch meetings over the coming few months to promote and drum up more support for Conference 2012. Our goal is to visit every HCA Branch before the end of the year - so look out for us.

Programme

We’re making excellent progress in developing the Conference Programme to support our theme: ‘Accept the Challenge - Feed the Future’.

There is still so much uncertainty surrounding the Government’s planned reforms. Yet whatever the outcome, we must continue to provide the best possible patient feeding services we can, within budgetary constraints, and without compromising on quality and standards.

Consequently, our focus is on creating a Programme that will inspire and support us as we go about our day-to-day jobs through a series of Keynote addresses presented by leading professionals from the NHS, governing bodies and industry. Our Speakers will provide direction, guidance and techniques - tools to motivate us all to rise to the challenge and help create a better healthcare system, fully equipped to meet the needs of our patients and stakeholders.

To whet the appetite (excuse the pun), confirmed experts you can expect to meet in Reading are:

Katherine Fenton, Chief Nurse at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust, who will present a Session entitled ‘Matron Knows Best…?’

Jocelyn Cornwell, Director of ‘The Point of Care’ programme run by the King’s Fund, will address the question, ‘Do We Care for Patients?’

Dr Heather Hartwell, Associate Professor of the School of Health and Social Care at Bournemouth University and a registered Nutritionist, will speak about ‘Wellbeing in the Workplace’.

We’re in the process of finalising details with the remaining Speakers - and we hope to bring you a few surprises.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for updates about the Conference Programme and the accompanying Exhibition by regularly visiting the HCA Conference website: www.hospitalcaterers.org/conference

Workshop

Conference isn’t just about sitting back and listening to what other people have to say.

We’re devoting the afternoon of Day Two (Friday 27 April) to an innovative Workshop Session which will involve everyone - Delegates, Guests and Suppliers - in a series of exciting team based activities. Don’t worry - there’s no running around muddy fields or building rafts to cross rivers. These will be indoor activities designed to build on the overall theme of Conference, strengthen relationships and networking opportunities and increase awareness of the collective resources available to us in our workplace.

It will be an informative, lively session with plenty of fun thrown in - but to find out more, you’ll have to attend Conference!

Poster Challenge

Don’t forget our Conference 2012 ‘Poster’ Challenge. We’re challenging you and your colleagues to design a poster that illustrates your ‘best practice’ projects and success stories and to submit them to the 2012 Conference Committee.

Your posters will be professionally edited, printed and displayed during Conference, and we’ll be inviting some of you to present your work during a dedicated Session. We will also be producing a booklet featuring all the posters, supported by the summaries of what you did to achieve your aims - an ideal tool of ideas and initiatives for you to replicate within your own departments.

The HCA Conference 2012 Poster Challenge is a perfect opportunity for you to share your successes and to be recognised for the fantastic work that is going on in Catering departments throughout the country, so I urge you to take part.

Full details on how to submit your entries - plus some poster concepts prepared by Members of the Wessex Branch to inspire you - can be found at: www.hospitalcaterers.org/news/index.php

We look forward to seeing you there.

Booking

We’re making it as easy as possible for you to book your attendance at Conference 2012 by providing an online booking facility via the Conference website: www.hospitalcaterers.org/conference/conference-booking.php.

And for anyone still in two minds about whether to attend, I suggest you view the excellent Conference 2012 promotional video on the HCA’s Conference website, which should have you pressing the ‘submit booking’ key to secure your place in no time at all!

Funding

I know that a number of Trusts have implemented a ban on attendance at conferences and study days as a cost cutting measure, but the good news is that there are a few other options available if you’re having trouble securing funding:

• Either approach your HCA Branch Secretary for more information as your Branch may be able to support your attendance, or
• Apply for an HCA Training and Development Bursary. Full details can be downloaded from: www.hospitalcaterers.org/news/2011/downloads/tdb_11.pdf

As mentioned earlier, the sooner you apply the better. And we look forward to welcoming you to Wokefield Park for the HCA National Conference 2012 next April.

Calling all golfers

A leisurely four-ball event is being organised for HCA Members on Wednesday afternoon (25 April) on Wokefield Park’s excellent US PGA-standard 7,000 yard championship golf course. The event will be hosted by some of our Trade Members and there is no charge for participating.

If you would like to play, please contact Committee Member, Simon Willars at NH Case as soon as possible. E-mail: simon.willars@nhcase.com, or call: 07841 278 633.

Message from the 2012 National Conference Secretary, Stella Gardener

[Published in the HCA Journal – August 2011]

Summer and the holiday season are still with us - but here at the 2012 Conference Committee Wessex Headquarters there is no let up on the effort, enthusiasm and commitment going into the planning of next year’s event, which takes place at Wokefield Park, Reading, 26-27 April.

Conference may still be eight months away but we’re already ‘open for business’, and ready to take your bookings. So my main challenge this issue is to encourage you to put pen to paper - or fingers to keyboards - and to sign up swiftly for what we promise will be a Conference to remember.

I’m delighted to announce that our Conference website is up and running - and if you haven’t done so already, you simply must visit it on www.hospitalcaterers.org/conference as it looks superb. Its design mirrors the style of the new look HCA website which is launched this month (August) and you can read more about on page 15.

Navigation buttons, which utilise the colourful ‘stick’ figures that make up our logo for Conference 2012, reflect each of the different aspects of Conference - the Venue and Accommodation, the Exhibition, Entertainment, the Conference Programme, plus full details of how you can get involved in our ‘Poster Challenge’, as featured in my last ‘Message’.

By clicking on each icon you can view the very latest information - and please keep revisiting the site as it will be regularly updated as our plans for the Exhibition and the Conference Programme are developed.

Booking

As mentioned above, the section we want you to visit as soon as possible is: ‘Booking your place’. Here you can conveniently fill in all your details and preferences electronically, then just press the submit button to secure your place at Conference 2012.

We’ve done our best to keep Delegate attendance rates as low as we possibly can and - a useful tip - if you are happy to share a room you will find that the room rates for double occupancy are lower than they have been in recent years.

You can find full details about the Delegates’ Conference package on the website.

Venue

Situated in the beautiful Berkshire countryside, amidst 250 acres of landscaped grounds, Wokefield Park is easily accessible from the M4 and close to Reading for direct trains from London. Heathrow Airport is less than one hour’s drive away.

Wokefield Park’s magnificent Mansion House will host some of our Delegates and Guests, as well as the Entertainment part of Conference - from the President’s Dinner, HCA Awards Ceremony and Charity Raffle on the evening of Day One, right through to our closing regal Street Party to celebrate HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on Friday night.

The Conference Sessions and Exhibition will be held a short stroll away from the Mansion House in the spacious, ultra-modern Executive Centre, which also houses a number of guest bedrooms where more Conference participants will stay.

2012 Conference Charity

The Conference Committee has chosen Wessex Medical Research as the nominated charity for the HCA National Conference 2012.

The Charity’s Innovation Fund provides critical start-up grants to early career researchers and its series of Summer Vacation Grants for undergraduates seeks to encourage suitable students to consider a career in medical research.

A number of today’s leading medical researchers started their career with one of their grants and it is vital that Wessex Medical Research maintains this flow of young talent otherwise the rapid progress in the advancement of medical science seen in recent years would quickly evaporate.

We’re proud to support Wessex Medical Research and all proceeds from the Charity Raffle will be donated to this worthy cause which, ultimately, is to the benefit of everyone.

Once again we will be calling upon HCA Branches to provide prizes for the Raffle and we would also welcome additional prizes of any value from Trade Suppliers. Full details of where to deliver the prizes will be provided in due course.

So in closing - a quick reminder. The bookings are, as always, taken on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so to avoid disappointment I urge you to go online as soon as you can and make your booking to attend the HCA’s National Conference in Reading, 26-27 April 2012.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Anyone for Golf?

Calling all golfers! Wokefield Park’s excellent leisure facilities include a US PGA-standard 7,000 yard championship golf course and some of our Trade Members have kindly offered to host a leisurely four-ball event for Members on Wednesday afternoon.

If you would like to play, please contact Simon Willars at NH Case who is co-ordinating the event, e-mail: simon.willars@nhcase.com, Mobile: 07841 278 633.

Message from the 2012 National Conference Secretary, Stella Gardener

[Published in the HCA Journal – June 2011]

It already seems an age since the Wessex Branch took on the challenge to organise the HCA’s 2012 National Conference and I’m delighted to bring you my first ‘Message’ as Conference Secretary and to report that plans for next year’s event are progressing well.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our region – which we believe is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Conference 2012 will be staged within the wonderful landscaped grounds of Wokefield Park, Reading on 26-27 April and I urge you to put that date in your diary now!

The key word for Conference 2012 is ‘challenge’. We are working through some of the most turbulent times ever to face the NHS, against the backdrop of uncertainty about the direction in which the Government is going over its planned reforms. The challenge to us all – regardless of the outcomes - is to rise above the maelstrom and to continue to provide the best possible patient feeding service we can within the constraints we face, without compromising on quality – not easy by any means.

So the theme we have chosen for Conference 2012 is ‘Accept the Challenge – Feed the Future’ with a specific emphasis on ‘Feeding Innovation, Inspiration and Recovery.’

And we’re taking our inspiration from that ‘other’ great ‘challenge’ event that is taking place in 2012 – the London Olympics!

Conference 2012 will challenge us all to work together and inspire us to return to our workplaces to help create a better healthcare system that is modern, dynamic and fully equipped to react to a changing environment.

Here is just a taster of what’s in store:

• Feeding Innovation: we will look at the exciting developments taking place around food research.
• Feeding Inspiration: we will focus on catering at the Olympics and the requirement for healthy and sustainable food choices not only for the athletes but for all during the event
• Feeding Recovery: we will address issues concerning patient food services, food allergies and eating disorders, and examine the latest trends.

Innovative Workshop Sessions will encourage lively discussion and debate and provide every Delegate with an opportunity to contribute and to have their say about how we can all work together to Feed the Future.

And don’t forget, the HCA Conference is IHM Accredited and contributes towards Continuing Professional Development – another reason why you should attend.

The Committee

I’m delighted to announce that Chris Lay, Wessex Branch Council Representative, has taken on the challenge to chair Conference and he’s using every opportunity to practice his skills on any audience he can find – as our picture shows.

The other Members of the Conference Committee are also hard at work, focusing on each of their areas of responsibility:

• Dave Rogers - Conference Treasurer
• Scott Jones - Conference Programme
• Terry Reeves - Conference Programme
• Ian Robinson - Conference Programme
• Denise Richardson - Menus and Entertainment
• Adrian Domagala - Exhibition
• Simon Willars - Exhibition

And you will have the opportunity to hear first hand how the arrangements are progressing as we have set ourselves another challenge. Members of the Wessex Conference Committee plan to visit every single HCA Branch around the country before the end of this year, to invite you personally to attend Conference 2012 in Reading.

We already have some of your Branch meetings lined up so watch out for us!

Booking arrangements

Our challenge to you is to book your attendance at Conference 2012 as soon as possible.

To make sure you secure the best ‘package’ to meet your comforts and requirements for Conference 2012, please make the necessary arrangements to free up your work diaries for 26-27 April 2012 and submit your booking forms before the end of this year.

Once again we will be keeping the Delegate rates and Trade fees as low as possible.

The Delegates Registration Form and full details of the cost of attendance can be found on the HCA website: www.hospitalcaterers.org/news/

Keep checking the site for updates about Conference 2012.