Hospital’s cafeteria to be reduced to two vending machines

On March 7th the lights will go out on yet one more service at Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.

For that is the day that the cafeteria will close. This means that food services will no longer be available to staff and visitors. Compact Group Canada will continue to supply meals to patients.
Last December, Quinte Healthcare announced that as they were losing $120,000 a year operating cafeterias at the three hospitals they would be closing both Trenton and PECMH cafeterias.

Belleville will be undergoing renovations in their cafeteria and will re-open in April. There will also be a Tim Hortons opening at BGH with a limited menu.
Local writer Steve Campbell satirically suggested that perhaps there might even be a drive-thru wheelchair ramp available at the BGH Tim Hortons.

QHC has stated that PECMH was only grossing $50 per day. Could the reason for that be that for many years now the cafeteria at our local hospital had very limited hours and a limited menu? I suspect that the staff felt that by bringing their own lunch they would have healthier choices.

I find it ironic that in a community that is well known for numerous organizations and groups that encourage and promote healthy eating, our local award-winning hospital will be reduced to two vending machines in its cafeteria.

The only thing left for QHC to do now is install signage to instruct stakeholders and visitors how to find the two vending machines. One filled with sugery soft drinks, the other with chocolate bars.

Fran Renoy
Picton