RAKUS Hospital to Re-evaluate Catering Services Amidst Hygiene Concerns
RAKUS, a prominent healthcare provider, is set to re-evaluate its catering services. The current contract is nearing its end, and the general hospital aims to find a more suitable provider through a new public procurement procedure. This decision comes amidst repeated hygiene non-compliances found during inspections of the current catering block.
The Eastern Hospital, comprising five inpatient facilities across Riga and Ropaži, has been facing issues with its catering services. Inspections revealed repeated non-compliances, including inadequate cleaning, insufficient refrigeration capacity, and risks of contamination in the food premises of RAKUS's catering block.
The hospital initially chose its current catering service provider through a procurement procedure, selecting the most economically advantageous option. However, the state funding for meals per patient per day is set at EUR 7, while the actual cost is around EUR 11. This discrepancy may indicate room for improvement in the general hospital's catering services. The Public Health and Veterinary Department (PVD) regularly inspects such service providers and can issue recommendations and instructions to ensure food safety and hygiene standards are met. The catering service provider is responsible for managing food circulation and adhering to these hygiene requirements.
As the current catering services contract at RAKUS nears its end, the general hospital will launch a new public procurement procedure to find a more suitable provider. This decision follows repeated hygiene non-compliances found during inspections of the current catering block. The new provider will be expected to meet the required food safety and hygiene standards, as well as provide more cost-effective solutions for the general hospital's catering needs.
