Scott Atkins, a dietary worker in the Patient Food Services department at London Health Sciences Centre works behind the scenes to help provide healthy meals for patients.
July 24, 2025
Scott Atkins and his colleagues in Patient Food Services work behind the scenes in the kitchen areas of both University and Victoria Hospitals at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). The team is comprised of over 125 team members who work together to provide over 1 million nutritious meals a year to inpatients.
Caring for others has always been a part of who Atkins is. Prior to joining LHSC, he worked at the Salvation Army as a community outreach coordinator providing kids programs and food truck support for clients. Unfortunately, the pandemic impacted his work, but it also gave him the opportunity to join LHSC’s Patient Food Services team as a dietary worker.
Atkins, who has been with LHSC for four years, performs many tasks in the Food Services department. His role includes inventory management, food preparation and checking to make sure the prepared food matches the tray ticket ensuring the food on the tray is accurate.
“One of my favorite positions is receiver: signing for the food when it comes off the truck and putting it away properly in the freezer,” explains Atkins.
What does Patient Safety mean to you?
“Patient safety means the world to me. We may not be doctors, but I feel like with the variety of diets that we cater to here, we make sure patients are getting what they need,” says Atkins. “For example, if they have allergies, we help ensure they're not given any food they're allergic to.”
Dietary workers like Atkins in Patient Food Services complete three weeks of training and hold a valid Safe Food Handling Certification.
Working as a team to keep patients safe
There are many people who work together to prepare each meal including dietary workers like Atkins, diet clerks, nutrition technicians, receivers, operational specialists, dietitians and leaders. They all wear different hats and have a role to play in the safe handling of food for patients.
“There’s a saying it takes a village to feed a person, and I feel it is like that here,” says Atkins. “There are many of us that do a whole bunch of different things for one patient to be able to get the nutrition they need.”
The main tray line area has a conveyor belt system and the tray ticket goes down on a tray and they start building it, putting the various components together from the main course to dessert.
“I really enjoy everything about my job. Of all the different jobs I've had over the years, this is probably one of my favorite jobs I've had because I get to do a little bit of everything,” explains Atkins. “I get to be a part of the big picture even if it’s making a simple sandwich.”
Patient Safety at LHSC video (October 2024):