NHS Grampian salutes culinary impact of Aberdeenshire hospital chef Bella Laing who’s retiring after 46 years
NHS Grampian is bidding a fond farewell to Bella Laing following a career as a hospital cook.
Bella has made it her life’s work to make hospital food really tasty.
The 66-year-old was part of the health board’s award-winning catering team who were one of the first in the country to introduce a deli cart service for young patients in 2016.
Catering manager Stuart Donald said: “Bella was instrumental in helping to set up the deli cart which enables us to offer a selection of freshly prepared foods for children to choose from themselves.
“It’s really made a difference. Our dietetics colleagues say it’s working wonders in making sure the kids get all the right nutrients.
“Its success is testament to Bella and her small team’s hard work over the years.
“Our cooks arriving with the meal trolley has become something the children look forward to and are excited by.
“We will all really miss Bella and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.”
Bella, who’s from Ythanwells near Huntly, first started her career with NHS Grampian in 1979.
At that time the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital was still in its old building and things were a little different.
She explained: “We didn’t have a separate service then. I was always in the kitchen until we started up the deli cart. We had to make everything from scratch, even pastry.”
Asked what her favourite part of the job is, Bella said: “I enjoy coming up here to see the kids, they are all characters and you get attached to them.
“They each have their likes and dislikes. They can come to the trolley and say ‘I want carrots or sausages’ or whatever, and it’s just so nice to see them come and please themselves.
“They never got the choice before and I don’t know how the nurses did it.”
Looking ahead to retirement, Bella is excited about spending more time with her grandson and is learning to swim before a big holiday to Morocco later in the year.
She commented: “Thanks to everybody I’ve worked with. I’ll miss the company but I’ll still be going to any nights out.
“Everybody gets on in our team, it’s one big happy family and I’ll definitely be keeping in touch.”
