Members of the media were there to document the moment the tray landed and the main meal – a roast vegetable frittata with roast carrots, broccoli and roast potato – was revealed.

Service provider Spotless prepares about 50,000 meals in the kitchen each month, which are served in the hospital and at Bendigo Health’s aged care services elsewhere in the city.

Spotless this week served its millionth meal since becoming operational at the new facility in July 2016.

The hospital welcomed its first patients in January 2017.

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About 80 food service professionals work in the hospital’s kitchen.

“Hospital food is challenging – you’ve got to have a really well-balanced diet, also making sure the food tastes and looks good,” James Reade, the food services manager at Spotless, said.

The meals produced need to adhere to more than 46 diet codes and more than 35 allergies.

What’s on the menu is a function of not only dietary considerations, but the breadth of health services provided.

The kitchen needs to be able to cater for patients staying for several months for services like rehabilitation, as well as pediatrics and short stays.

“We’re really proud of the food we serve here,” Mr Reade said. 

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He said complaints were minimal compared with the number of meals served. 

Bendigo Health chief medical officer Dr Humsha Naidoo said all complaints were thoroughly investigated.

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