Recognition is on the menu for the Catering Manager at Oswestry’s specialist orthopaedic hospital – after receiving June’s RJAH Star Award.
Dan Hoggett manages the Catering Team who have been hailed for serving the best food in the country by patients, for the 16th time in the past 17 years, as part of the annual Adult Inpatient Survey.
The team provides and serves meals to inpatients at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, as well as the running of the onsite restaurant, Denbigh’s.
Dan was nominated by Sian Langford, Facilities Compliance Manager, who said: “Dan is a true unsung hero of RJAH.
“Dan is tirelessly dedicated to supporting the best level of patient care. Whether that is developing bespoke menus for patients with specific needs, working with suppliers to get the best possible produce, or running ‘specials’ – from coronation party boxes to theme days to offer the most variety possible to our longest stay patients.
“Dan is also often responsible for working out the practicalities of so many of our staff wellbeing initiatives – cost of living measures, thank you cakes, Nutrition and Hydration Week all have Dan’s stamp on.
“A real advocate for excellence, he is well respected with peers both within the Trust and externally – hosting visits from other partners across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and an active member of NHS England’s exemplar Trust programme, Dan’s knowledge, drive, and enthusiasm is infectious to all who get the opportunity to work alongside him.”
The monthly RJAH Stars Award is an opportunity to reward unsung heroes from across the hospital who are nominated by their colleagues.
Dan said: “I am hugely humbled to receive this award and just want to thank Sian for the nomination and the fantastic catering team I work with who never fail to deliver.
“I am proud to work with each and every one of them, and this award is for them as much as it is for me.
“It is very satisfying to know that our efforts are appreciated, and I take a huge amount of pride in what we do.”
Stacey Keegan, Chief Executive at the Oswestry-based hospital, presented Dan with a framed award certificate, a gift voucher and a box of chocolates kindly donated from the League of Friends.
Stacey said: “We are lucky to have what I can confidently say is the best catering team in the NHS.
“Their food is consistently rated as the best you can find in any hospital, and nothing is ever too much trouble for them. A lot of that is down to Dan, who is a diligent, hard-working leader who really puts patients and staff first.
“From special menus to satisfy dietary requirements, to organising some fantastic culinary events such as the NHS birthday or our Christmas dinners, Dan always delivers a first-class service. I am delighted to be able to turn the tables for once and serve up an RJAH Stars Award for him!”
