Putting sustainable development into practice: hospital food procurement in Wales

摘要

A case study of hospital food procurement demonstrates how change is being brought about to meet the seemingly conflicting aims of sustainability and low cost within the perceived constraints of European Union procurement regulations. The Welsh government, a pioneer in embedding sustainable development into its constitution, seeks to put those principles into practice by using public services to support the regional economy. Eschewing competition, it has structured the National Health Service (NHS) to remain in public ownership, devolving delivery to subordinate bodies to meet patients’ needs, whilst collaborating in the development of more integrated demand-side structures. A case study of the 2012 yoghurt contract demonstrates how the integration of the Nutritional Care Pathway (NCP), nutritional standards and an All Wales menu framework have enabled relocalization of the yoghurt supply chain, whilst enabling innovation further to support the local economy.