NHS Grampian bid a fond farewell to Bella Laing (66), from Ythanwells near Huntly, on Friday following a career as a cook spanning five decades.
Bella was part of the
health board’s award-winning catering team who were one of the first in the
country to introduce a deli cart service for young patients, in 2016. Bella has
made it her life’s work to help people in hospital enjoy their meals and she
loves seeing the positive reaction children and young people have to the food
she has prepared.
Catering Manager Stuart
Donald explained: “Bella was instrumental in helping to set up the deli cart
which enables us to offer a selection of freshly prepared foods for children to
choose from themselves. This helps to encourage healthy eating and improves the
customer experience for our young patients. It has really made a difference to
families and staff, and particularly our dietetics colleagues who say it’s
working wonders in terms of making sure the kids get all the right nutrients.
“Its success is testament to Bella and her small team’s hard work over the years, ensuring the best possible care and attention is given, and specific needs are met. Our cooks arriving with the meal trolley has become something the children look forward to and are excited by. We will all really miss Bella and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.”
When Bella first started her career with NHS Grampian in 1979, the children’s hospital was still in its old building and things were a little different. She explained: “We didn’t have a separate service then, I was always in the kitchen until we started up the deli cart for the children’s hospital. We had to make everything from scratch, even pastry.”
Asked what her favourite part of the job is, Bella said: “I enjoy coming up here to see the kids, they are all characters and you get attached to them. They each have their likes and dislikes. They can come to the trolley and say ‘I want carrots/sausages’ whatever and it’s just so nice to see them come and please themselves. They never got the choice before and I don’t know how the nurses did it.”
Looking ahead to retirement, Bella is excited about spending more time with her grandson and is learning to swim before a big holiday to Morrocco later in the year. She commented: “Thanks to everybody I’ve worked with. I’ll miss the company but I’ll still be going to any nights out. Everybody gets on in our team, it’s one big happy family and I’ll definitely be keeping in touch.”
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