Southern Cross Healthcare links with nutrition expert Nutmeg

From the end of March service users across the 652 homes run by the Southern Cross Group will be guaranteed meals that are not only varied and tasty, but meet all of the relevant nutritional standards recommended for the elderly and those with dementia, thanks to the Group’s new partnership with nutrition specialists Nutmeg UK.

Nutmeg’s market leading software system, NMP Gold, contains more than 1,500 recipes designed and analysed by qualified dieticians and based on the nutritional requirements of older people in care homes including individuals with dementia. Southern Cross’s chefs are now able to plan balanced menus and obtain nutritional analysis of their choices at the touch of a button. Any nutritional imbalances are identified immediately and the menu can be adjusted simply and quickly.

Having undergone training throughout February, all chefs and care centre managers in the group are now using the system.

Laura Appleyard, an administrator at Glennie House, helped in the implementation of NMP Gold at Southern Cross and knows first hand how flexible the system is to use. "After spending considerable time testing the system from a Southern Cross perspective, I can confidently say that Nutmeg is easy to use no matter what level of computer skills the catering team possess. I have been pleasantly surprised as to how straightforward and intuitive Nutmeg has been."

Harry Carson, chef at Murrayfield House in Edinburgh says, "This system is so easy to use and great in helping me plan my menu. It gives me a full nutritional breakdown of all my menu selections. It certainly makes my life easier."

Mandy Cooper, manager of Murrayfield House adds, "From my perspective it certainly helps us meet the requirements of the regulators and health professionals. And with a vast number of recipes on the system it still promotes choice as a key element of our service."

Nutmeg’s founder and managing director Peter Roberts says, "We are immensely pleased to be working with a group of Southern Cross's prestige. Nutmeg has invested a great deal of time and expertise in developing software that is both easy to use and puts elderly people's nutritional needs, and tastes, at its heart. To see it put to use by Southern Cross across the UK is very satisfying."

John Murphy, Southern Cross’s chief operating officer adds, "The Nutmeg system has obviously generated a lot of excitement and renewed our enthusiasm for food, which can only be a good thing for our service users. At the same time the system clearly demonstrates our market leading approach to ensuring all of the various nutritional guidelines are met."

The implementation of Nutmeg into the Southern Cross infrastructure is already proving its worth. Les Stuart, chef at Kingsgate Care Centre can vouch for that. "I have been working with Nutmeg for the last few weeks and feedback so far has been very good. Not only are the service users enjoying the food we have been cooking, but I know for a fact that everything that the team produces is nutritionally balanced. What more could I ask for?"

Notes to Editors

Southern Cross Healthcare Group PLC

Southern Cross is the largest UK provider of care home services for the elderly and a major provider of specialist services for people with physical and/or learning disabilities. The Company's care homes for the elderly operate under two distinct brands: Southern Cross Healthcare and Ashbourne Senior Living. Both brands provide a range of social and personal care services and nursing care services for elderly people with physical frailties and differing forms of dementia. The Company's specialist services operate under the Active Care Partnerships brand and provide long-term care services for people with physical and/or learning disabilities and for younger people with complex forms of challenging behaviour.

Southern Cross is focused on providing high quality care in well invested facilities, seeking to be the home of choice in each local community in which it operates. The Company provides care services for most of the local authorities in the UK which, together with the NHS, represent over circa 70% of the Company's revenues. Its care home portfolio is largely purpose-built with a high percentage of single occupancy rooms and rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

Nutmeg UK Limited (www.nutmeg-uk.com) was set up in 1999 to provide nutritional analysis of menus for a range of providers from schools to care homes, nurseries to prisons. Its clients include the Scottish Executive, Birmingham City Council and more than 60 local authorities and Southern Cross Healthcare (the UK’s largest provider of care homes for the elderly).