Celebrations on a plate for NHS birthday

Patients at Stafford and Cannock hospitals enjoyed special celebratory meals to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust's catering team served up the three-course lunches to more than 600 patients at Stafford Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital.

Patients were offered a choice of vegetable soup or fresh fruit juice to start, followed by chicken in a white wine and mushroom sauce or vegetables in a cream sauce, with a selection of side vegetables, for their main courses.

All meals were finished off with a portion of strawberry gateau.

Catering staff also prepared a special three-course evening salad menu to round off the day.

Every patient was given a commemorative menu card, with various NHS facts and figures, as a keepsake of the national landmark day.

Catering manager Rob Willatt said: "We've been planning the special meals for about a month now. We wanted to do something for the patients to mark the special NHS anniversary. We also thought the menu cards would give patients a good reminder of the day."

Stafford Hospital urology patient Emma Bentley said: "It all looked and tasted delicious. It must be hard to get all the meals ready and hot at the same time.

"I've been in and out of hospital, and I always enjoy the food – the puddings are my favourite.

"The choice of vegetables is also good. When you're in hospital, you're conscious of wanting to eat as healthily as possible. It makes me feel better knowing I'm eating lots of vegetables."