Staff and visitors at a Vancouver acute-care hospital will not be able to buy snacks, meals, and beverages in the cafeteria on weekends, beginning January 16.

A memo on letter head from the contractor, Sodexo, states that this business has seen "a decline in activity" over the years.

"As a result, a decision was made to end services on the weekends and holidays," wrote Tiffy Tsao, food services director.

The dining area will remain open for people who want to make use of the space. 

Staff and visitors can order breakfast, lunch, and dinners advance if they purchase meal tickets from the cafeteria from Mondays to Fridays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

They have to fill out an order form and fax it to 604-877-8118 before an unspecified deadline. Tickets must be stapled to the order form and then given to food services staff, who will bring the meal to the selected location. 

Meanwhile, Tsao wrote that Mount Saint Joseph will be working with Sodexo on a new "Hostess" model for acute-care patients.

"A host/hostess from the food service department will visit patients daily at bedside to explain the menu features and record patient's meal selections using iPad technology," the memo states.