Catering plays a crucial role in healthcare settings, ensuring that patients receive nutritious, safe, and well-balanced meals that contribute to their recovery. Unlike standard commercial kitchens, healthcare catering units must adhere to strict hygiene and dietary guidelines, considering the diverse medical and nutritional needs of patients.
The Catering System shall provide food service for staff, inpatients, outpatients, and ambulatory patients as appropriate. The patient food service will include catering for the special dietary needs of patients, food service to VIP rooms and provision of nourishment and snacks between scheduled meal services.
Provision of food services for visitors and staff may include cafeterias, kiosks, or vending machine dispensing areas, particularly for after-hours access.
Food service facilities and equipment shall comply with these Guidelines and other appropriate codes for food services.
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1) Planning of Catering Unit
i) Planning Models
On site preparation
The Catering Unit may be designed to accommodate a Cook-Serve food preparation system. Cook-Serve refers to the process where food, fresh or frozen is prepared, cooked, plated and served immediately.
Variations of the Cook-Serve process include:
- Hot plating, delivery and serving
- Delivery of hot bulk food, then plating and serving.
Food preparation systems require space and equipment for receipt, storage, preparing, cooking and baking.
Off site preparation
If food is prepared off site or in a remote location on the hospital campus, then the following will apply:
- Briefed requirements under this section (Catering) may be reduced as appropriate
- Provide protection for food delivered to ensure it maintains freshness, retains temperature and avoids contamination.
If delivery is from outside sources, provide protection against the weather. Provisions must be made for thorough cleaning and sanitising of equipment to avoid mixing soiled and clean items.
If food is brought in from a remote part of the hospital site, all connections must be under cover and reasonably weather protected.
ii) Functional Areas
The Catering Unit may include the following Functional Areas:
- Food preparation areas
- Cooking facilities
- Plating areas
- Dishwashing and pot washing areas
- Refrigerator/s, cool rooms and freezers of adequate size to store perishable foodstuffs
- Storage areas for dry goods
- Parking and cleaning areas for food distribution trolleys
- Staff Dining Room
- Access to staff amenities
Note: Preparation of food referred to above does not necessarily involve cooking on site. Food may be prepared off site, then reheated and served on site.
Food distribution
A cart distribution system shall be provided with spaces for storage, loading, distribution, receiving, and sanitising of the food service carts.
The cart traffic and the cleaning and sanitising process shall be designed to eliminate any danger of cross-circulation between outgoing food carts and incoming, soiled carts.
Cart traffic shall not be through food processing areas. The distribution service must ensure food is delivered to the patient hot or cold as required.
Garbage disposal
Provision shall be made for regular wet and dry garbage storage, removal and disposal in accordance with Waste Management Guidelines.
All garbage, and in particular wet garbage, shall be stored in sealed bins. Provision shall be made for the storage and cleaning of bins.
In large Hospitals or catering facilities, the following are highly recommended:
- Refrigerated wet waste storage.
- Special equipment to reduce the water content of wet waste.
Staff amenities
Staff toilets and locker spaces shall be provided for the exclusive use of the catering staff. These shall not open directly into the food preparation areas, but must be in close proximity to them.
Storage
Food storage components shall be grouped for convenient access from receiving and to the food preparation areas. All food shall be stored clear of the floor. The lowest shelf shall be not less than 300 mm above the floor or shall be closed in and sealed tight for ease of cleaning.
Storage space for at least a four day supply of food shall be provided. Separate space will be required for refrigerated (cold and frozen) storage, dry foods storage and crockery, utensils and cutlery storage.
Catering facilities in remote areas may require proportionally more food storage facilities than needed for the four days recommended depending on the frequency and reliability of deliveries.
Supplies receival
An area shall be provided for the receiving and control of incoming food supplies such as a loading dock. This area shall be separated from the general loading dock areas used for access to garbage areas and body holding rooms.
The receiving area shall contain the following:
- A control station
- A breakout for loading, un-crating, and weighing supplies.
- These areas may be shared with clean dock areas.
iii) Functional Relationships
External
The Catering Unit has a strong functional relationship with
- Loading dock for deliveries
- Waste disposal area
- All Inpatient Units
- Staff Dining areas (these may be centrally located or dispersed throughout the complex)
Internal
Within the Catering Unit the food preparation areas and food cooking areas are central to the operation of the Unit and have a strong functional link to all support areas required including dry stores, cold storage, freezer storage, plating, dishwashing and pot washing.
2) Design of Catering Unit
i) General
Design of the Catering Unit should allow for a unidirectional work flow from receipt of produce and supplies to storage, food preparation, cooking, plating and food delivery to inpatient units and servery areas.
This flow should not conflict with the return of used food carts and equipment to a receival area, then to dishwashing and storage areas.
ii) Environmental Considerations
Natural light
Wherever possible, the use of natural light is to be maximised for the benefit of staff working in the Unit.
Acoustics
Dining areas tend to be noisy and will require acoustic treatment, particularly to walls adjoining other departments. Provide acoustic treatment to dishwashing areas.
Ergonomics
The Catering Unit should be designed with consideration to ergonomics to ensure an optimal working environment.
Aspects for consideration will include height of benches and height of equipment in constant use such as food processing, cooking equipment and storage areas including cool rooms, particularly storage for bulky and heavy supplies.
iii) Safety and Security
To prevent accidents, all internal kitchen doors shall have clear glazing to the top half. All electrical equipment should have emergency shut off switches to prevent overheating.
iv) Finishes
All tables, benches and other surfaces on which food is prepared or handled shall be covered in a smooth impervious material. Floor finish must be a non slip surface with no crevices and easily cleaned.
v) Fixtures and Fittings
Refrigerators, freezers, ovens and other equipment that is thermostatically controlled will require temperature monitoring to maintain desired temperatures and alarms when temperature is not reached or exceeded.
Alarms should be automatically recorded. Movable equipment including food service delivery trolleys will require heavy duty locking castors.
vi) Infection Control
Staff Hand washing basins shall be provided in all clean-up, preparation, cooking, serving areas of the Unit. Basins should be hands-free operation with paper towel and soap dispensers. Mirrors should not be installed over basins.
vii) Building Service Requirements
Under-counter conduits, piping, and drains shall be arranged to not interfere with cleaning of the equipment or of the floor below the counter.
Insect Control
In new Hospitals the kitchen may not open directly to the outside; an air lock shall be provided between the kitchen and external areas. A section of hospital corridor may be used as an air lock.
In existing kitchens being refurbished, any door leading directly from the kitchen to the outside shall be fitted with a fly screen door with a self closer.
3) Components of the Unit
The Catering Unit will contain a combination of Standard Components and Non-Standard Components. Provide Standard Components to comply with details in the Standard Components described in these Guidelines.
i) Non Standard Components
Dishwashing
Description and Function
The Catering Unit will provide separate stainless steel sinks and drainers or equipment for washing of dishes, utensils and cutlery. The area shall also provide space for receiving, scraping, rinsing, sorting and stacking of soiled tableware.
Location and Relationships
Dedicated crockery, utensil and cutlery washing (warewashing) facilities shall be located as far as practical from the food preparation and serving area. It is recommended that where practical, a warewashing space be located in a separate room or alcove.
Considerations
Warewashing facilities shall be designed to prevent contamination of clean wares with soiled wares through cross-traffic. The clean wares shall be transferred for storage or use in the Dining Area without having to pass through food preparation areas.
The Dishwashing area requires the following finishes:
- Walls and ceiling that are smooth, impervious and easily cleanable
- Floors that are impervious and non-slip
Commercial type washing equipment is recommended.
Food preparation areas
Description and Function
Food preparation areas are provided as discrete areas for separation of food types. The areas will include benches, sinks, shelving and mobile trolleys for utensils. Ready access to boiling water units and ice dispensing machines will be required.
Location and Relationships
Food preparation areas will be located with ready access to storage areas and refrigeration for food supplies and to cooking areas.
Considerations
The food preparation areas require a temperature controlled environment. Equipment required for food preparation may include food processors, slicers, mixers, cutters; special power may be required according to manufacturer’s specifications; safety considerations may include power cut-off to items of equipment.
Pot washing
Description and Function
The Catering Unit shall provide separate stainless steel sinks and drainers or equipment for washing of pots.
Location and Relationships
Pot washing sinks or equipment shall be located with ready access to preparation and cooking areas and may be colocated with dishwashing areas.
Considerations
The Potwashing area requires the following finishes:
- Walls and ceiling that are smooth, impervious and easily cleanable
- Floors that are impervious and non-slip
Pot scrubbing facilities are required that incorporate emergency manual ware washing facilities in the event of equipment failure.
Servery
Description and Function
The Servery provides an area for plating and serving food with facilities for keeping food warm or cool.
Location and Relationships
The Servery may be located with close access to the Catering Unit and adjacent to Staff Dining Areas.
Considerations
The Servery will require the following finishes:
- Walls and ceiling that are smooth, impervious and easily cleanable
- Floors that are impervious and non-slip
The Servery will require the following fittings and fixtures:
- A workbench with an impervious top and splashback
- A single or double bowl stainless steel sink set in the benchtop supplied with hot and cold reticulated water, lever action or automatically activated taps
- A disposable glove dispenser
- A handbasin, with liquid soap and paper towel dispensers
Staff dining room
Description and Function
The Staff Dining Room provides an area for staff dining and relaxation. The Room shall provide space for all staff potentially requiring sit down dining space during any single shift.
Note: Staggered dining sessions is an acceptable way of reducing the size of this room.
The minimum area for a Staff Dining Room shall be 1.25 m2 per person dining at any one time or 9.5 m2 whichever is the greater.
A Vending machine area may be provided for afterhour’s access to prepared food and snacks.
The Vending machine area maybe located within the Dining Room with security considerations to prevent access to the Catering Unit after hours.
Location and Relationships
The Staff Dining Room should be located in a staff only, discreet area of the facility with direct access to a circulation corridor. It should have ready access to the Catering Unit. Access to an external dining area is desirable.
Depending on Operational Policy of the hospital, a combined public/ staff Dining Area may be provided located close to the entrance area.
Considerations
The Dining Room should incorporate the following:
- External windows
- Dining tables and chairs
- Telephone within or adjacent to the room for staff use
Acoustic privacy may be required to adjoining areas. Please refer to Part C, 9.2 “Acoustic Solutions for Healthcare Facilities”
Trolley / cart wash
Description and Function
An area shall be provided for stripping, washing and disinfecting of trolleys and carts.
Location and Relationships
The Trolley Wash area should be located remotely from the food preparation and storage areas. It should have ready access to the trolley return and parking areas.
Considerations
The trolley washing area will require:
- Smooth, impervious and easily cleanable surfaces to walls and ceiling
- Impervious and non-slip finishes to the floor
- Hot and cold water outlets.
4) Schedule of Accommodation
Catering Unit Generic Schedule of Accommodation
The Schedule of Accommodation for a Catering Unit for Level 4 to 6, providing an on-site ‘Cook-Serve’ food preparation service.
Please note the following:
- Areas noted in Schedules of Accommodation take precedence over all other areas noted in the FPU.
- Rooms indicated in the schedule reflect the typical arrangement according to the Role Delineation.
- Exact requirements for room quantities and sizes will reflect Key Planning Units identified in the service plan and the policies of the Unit.
- Room sizes indicated should be viewed as a minimum requirement; variations are acceptable to reflect the needs of individual Unit.
- Office areas are to be provided according to the Unit role delineation and staffing establishment.
- Staff and support rooms may be shared between Functional Planning Units dependant on location and accessibility to each unit and may provide scope to reduce duplication of facilities.
5) Functional Relationship Diagram
Catering Unit Functional Relationship Diagram
