GONE are the days of paper menus and guesswork at Salisbury District Hospital, after the catering team scooped a national award for transforming the way patients order meals.

The Catering Team at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised at the Healthcare Estates & Facilities Management Association (HEFMA) Awards, taking home the Digital Innovation Award for a major overhaul of its meal service.

At the heart of the transformation is a new electronic meal ordering (EMO) system, which allows patients on inpatient wards to order meals digitally at their bedside in real time, replacing traditional paper menus.

The system is helping staff deliver safer and more personalised care, with accurate allergen and dietary coding reducing risks for patients while improving food choice and overall experience.

But the innovation has not stopped there.

Working alongside ward teams across the Trust, the catering department has also introduced carbon analysis technology to redesign menus; cutting the carbon footprint of patient meals by 62% and reducing food waste by 19%.

The achievement has earned national recognition and highlights the Trust’s growing focus on combining patient care with sustainability and digital innovation.

Catering manager Paul Straughair said the award was the result of teamwork across the hospital.

“I’m incredibly proud of what the Team has achieved,” he said. “This award reflects the hard work, collaboration and dedication across multiple teams to improve patient experience while making a real difference to sustainability.

“It’s fantastic to see our work recognised on a national stage.”