A FOOD-CATERING company set up at Stoke Mandeville Hospital has been awarded the second-lowest food hygiene rating possible.

Sodexo Healthcare was given a ‘1’ rating following an inspection from council environmental health officers in October.

The grade, which has only recently been published, meant ‘major improvement’ was ‘necessary’ for the caterers.

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The score came after Sodexo’s food hygiene and safety was rated as ‘poor’.

Inspectors had ‘little’ confidence in Sodexo’s management, but the firm’s structural compliance was rated as ‘good’.

The inspectors’ full report has not been published publicly but the Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked Buckinghamshire Council for this.

Sodexo also caters for Stoke Mandeville’s inpatients, but the Free Press understands the grade was awarded following an issue identified in a retail area.

And despite the low rating, Sodexo says the improvement notice has now been removed after three further unannounced visits reported no issues.

A Sodexo spokesperson said: “At Sodexo, we acknowledge the responsibility we have to our customers and have high standards regarding food safety and hygiene practices.

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“The 1-star food hygiene rating relates to one specific issue found on inspection in a retail area. We are pleased that the report found all other areas were performing well.

“As soon as we became aware of this rating, we developed a clear action plan for making improvements in the food retail area in partnership with [Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS] Trust and NHSI.

“Three further unannounced visits found no reported issues and the improvement notice was removed.”

A Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust spokesperson added: “The Trust was notified of a 1-star food hygiene rating for Sodexo Healthcare in the retail areas at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in October.

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“This was due to one specific issue found on inspection. Food served to inpatients was given a clean bill of health, and the report commented on how well other areas were performing.

“The Trust has been working closely with NHSI and Sodexo, with a clear action plan for making improvements in the food retail area.”