PATIENTS in Leigh Infirmary have the hostess with the mostest at mealtimes on the wards.

A new trolley system, which gives patients a varied choice of dishes, has proved a big hit.

And further improvements are in the offing with the initiation of former Masterchef host Lloyd Grossman's leading chef's dishes in the pipeline.

This means courses like lamb samosa and yoghurt dip, moussaka and seafood pasta will be available alongside the more traditional shepherd's pie and roast beef.

The NHS has come a long way since it was founded on July 5, 1948, and this week - NHS Week 2001- celebrates the modern service, its staff and the pioneering work they do.

Tony Halsall, director of nursing, said: "At the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust, we invest about £161m each year on health care and employ approximately 6,000 staff.

"They work extremely hard to give the public the best service possible and treat hundreds of thousands of patients each year, about 85,000 patients under the care of a consultant and around 300,000 patients at outpatient departments.

"Eighty thousand people attend the A and E department at Wigan and in the region of 33,000 the walk-in centre at Leigh."

All five hospital sites are celebrating the week with information displays about the trust and promoting innovative work.

This includes the new catering service, an initiative to improve mental health services, a nurse development programme, theatre improvements and a ride for health.

Catering services manager Gill Singleton said: "Patients now have more control over what they wish to eat.

"Catering staff plate the meals at ward level, which allows patients to have as much or little as they wish. This helps to alleviate problems they may have with their appetite changing from one meal to the next.

"The trust is delighted that overall satisfaction with the catering department service has increased tremendously."

The Trust is shortly introducing snack boxes on a 24-hour basis. Lloyd Grossman's recipes spice up the menu New approach could work out for patients THE nurse-led Lindamere Unit for mental health patients, which opened 18 months ago at Leigh Infirmary, is going from strength to strength.

A ground-breaking new approach to therapy has been brought in for patients - exercise programmes.

Patients were asked what they thought would improve the ward and as a result, four pieces of equipment have been bought: a stepper, rowing machine, treadmill and exercise bike.

In addition, physiotherapists from The Avenue Day Centre will attend three times a week to formulate exercise plans.

Service manager Hilary Fenton said patients are individually assessed and given the chance to improve via alternative programmes such as exercise.

"This initiative will not only increase their overall fitness but help to promote a healthier lifestyle and help reduce social exclusion that many people with mental health problems suffer. They often do not have the confidence required to join gyms, but it is envisaged that once discharged, these people will be able to enjoy the social aspects gyms offer to the wider society."

Nurses and patients will benefit from a development programme which encourages nurses to develop their existing skills. Forty four nurses completed the University Advanced Course run with the University of Central Lancashire in February and found it a worthwhile experience. Many have been encouraged to go on to further studies and have agreed tosupervise the next group scheduled to undertake the programme in September. THE Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust Trust joined Wigan Council to organise a sponsored Ride for Health 2001 between Leigh Infirmary and Wrightington last week to raise the awareness of the health benefits of cycling. AWAITING bit about theatre improvements at Leigh Healthy riding