Inclusion in record time
The hospital VAMED Klinik Hagen-Ambrock needed a new food serving line, so that patients in wheelchairs could also serve themselves comfortably and independently. Regional Sales Manager Sven Nowacki reveals in an interview how it was possible to make this wish a reality within just a few weeks and without the need for any construction work
"At first, I thought: There's simply no way we can do that in just one day. It's not going to work." Sven Nowacki, Regional Sales Manager at B.PRO for North Rhine-Westphalia, still has to smile when he thinks back to 12 November of this year. After all, he had made an ambitious promise to those responsible at the VAMED hospital in Hagen: The ten BASIC LINE modules for their new serving line were to be fully installed in just one day – and also be ready for use straight away!
Nowacki, 57, has been with B.PRO since April 2021. As a trained chef that also has many years of experience in the catering solutions sector, he knows exactly how important it is to implement projects efficiently. This applies in particular to customers in the hospital environment, as ongoing services and operations generally have to be secured without any interruptions here. In the case of the VAMED hospital, the B.PRO team also faced a number of other challenges.
"The starting situation was a kind of makeshift serving solution with older technical equipment and some temporarily positioned tables," explains Nowacki. Patients in wheelchairs were served at their seats, as they could hardly provide themselves with food at this type of serving point. "The hospital managers wanted a modern, centralised and inclusive serving area that could cater to the number of people eating here, which typically ranges from 100 to 150," Nowacki emphasises. "When you can serve yourself, you get a greater feeling of personal responsibility. This lends the food a different kind of value and creates new points of contact with the other guests. All of this promotes genuine participation."
The BASIC LINE Kids - genuine participation, even for adults
Together with the team from Hörstke Großkücheneinrichtungen in Witten, as well as Martin Braun and Sylvia Steiger from the "B.PRO Projects" department, Nowacki went on site to check things out and exchange ideas. It then quickly became clear: The concept of inclusion was not the only key issue, as the short implementation time was also critical. "Those responsible wanted a solution that could be implemented as quickly as possible. Any notion of doing construction work was completely ruled out," emphasises Nowacki. Two supporting pillars also had to be included in the planning. "But we quickly found a solution with our colleagues from the Design department." Two customised covers were designed, one enclosing the column and one connecting the planned serving lines on both sides. To protect the modules from accidental scratches from wheelchairs, an all-round collision guard was also incorporated in the plan.
Based on these requirements, the Sales Manager presented the B.PRO BASIC LINE Kids to the hospital team. This is a modular food serving line with a serving height of 750 mm. "It makes it possible to realise the customer's ideas quickly and easily without the need for any additional construction work and without straining the budget." Accordingly, B.PRO was able to satisfy all of the hospital's requirements. The order was confirmed on 25 August, and the production team started work in mid-September.
"I was very relieved and happy"
Just eight weeks later, the time had come. The equipment was delivered on 11 November, and installation was scheduled for the following day. The dining hall was closed to the public, and two fitters from Hörstke arrived. "I started to feel a little queasy at this point," admits Sven Nowacki. This should not really come as a surprise, as one heated servery counter, two cooled servery counters for the long sides and various plain modules all had to be installed. And in just a few hours!
But as it turns out, Sven Nowacki need not have worried. The team started work at 7:30 am – and by 2:30 pm the entire serving line was up and running, ready to be handed over to the VAMED hospital! This is a great overall result, which was also achieved on the B.PRO side thanks to perfect cooperation between the Sales, Projects and Production departments.
"I was very relieved and happy," explains Sven Nowacki. "Everything went hand in hand." And the customers were also blown away: "The enthusiasm being displayed by management, as well as the kitchen and the service team, grew with every module installed," says the Solingen-born chef. "At one point, some guests accidentally found their way into the dining hall – where they were clearly staggered by all the changes being implemented." Two tray clearing trolleys were subsequently supplied in addition to the existing plate dispensers and serving trolleys. This completed the serving line.
Hygiene, appearance and sustainability
The new solution proved immediately effective in day-to-day operations. The former makeshift counter is history. A professional, hygienically safe and visually harmonious buffet can now be set up in its place. For staff, this means clearer processes and less improvisation. However, those that enjoy the greatest benefits are the guests. People in wheelchairs can now find what they need independently. This form of personal responsibility not only changes the atmosphere in the dining hall, but also strengthens the experience of self-efficacy. And since the BASIC LINE uses a modular design, the system can also be extended. As such, the hospital now has a solution that will also meet future requirements.
"What we've seen here applies to all our projects: We always take a close look, focussing on what customers really need. Sometimes it's about speed, sometimes about inclusion, sometimes about completely different framework conditions. The key factor is that the end result provides a solution which fits in with everyday life on site and makes things easier for people. This is precisely what motivates and drives us at B.PRO."
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