Companies compete for control of canteen

4:34pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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Catering staff at Airedale Hospital, Steeton, will not know until the summer who their future employer will be.

Three companies are competing for control of the hospital canteen, which Airedale managers controversially put out to tender after they could not meet the cost of bringing the kitchen up to environmental health standards.

The 92 canteen staff, who fear for their jobs with the potential privatisation, will now have to wait until July to hear the outcome of the bidding.

Adam Cairns, chief executive of Airedale NHS Trust, said: "The trust board has updated staff on the continuation of the procurement process to work with three shortlisted companies on the proposals put forward to provide modern catering facilities for Airedale NHS Trust.

"Our dedicated staff already provide an excellent service, one that is continually rated well by our patients.

"We have listened to their concerns and will ensure the proposals include agreement to continue to work in partnership with them, listening to their expertise and providing the best possible service for the future."

Keighley MP Ann Cryer has previously criticised the hospital's decision to privatise the canteen, arguing that the £1.6million to £2 million cost of upgrading the service should be borrowed to keep the business within the NHS.

More than 650 people have signed a petition rejecting the privatisation plan.