Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital has been awarded a prestigious 5 star food safety award by South Cambridgeshire Environmental Health Department.
Under the Food Safety Act 1990, environmental health inspectors are required to inspect food premises according to the Food Standards Agency Code of Practice. South Cambridgeshire have introduced an innovative food safety ratings scheme which gives premises a rating from 0 to 5 stars (5 stars being the highest or excellent) for food safety. The rating system makes it easy for the public to understand, and food businesses inspected since the launch in September 2005, along with their rating, are listed on website
www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk Environmental health inspectors look at three areas during inspection: compliance with food hygiene and safety regulations; structural issues concerning the premises and confidence in management and training. The frequency of inspection is determined by a risk rating using the three categories above, plus the type of food and method of handling, and consumers at risk. Cambridge Lea is inspected every 18 months because patients in the hospital are defined as being a vulnerable group.
Paula Naylor, operations manager at Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital says: “We are delighted to be awarded the highest possible star rating in the recent unannounced inspection. The inspections are very thorough because we cater for vulnerable people, so it’s especially pleasing that we were awarded 5 stars.”
