Hospital patients try different foods during Nutrition and Hydration Week 2016

PATIENTS at North Devon District Hospital and community hospitals were given an opportunity to try different foods as part of Nutrition and Hydration Week 2016.

The global awareness campaign – from Monday 14 March to Sunday 20 March – aimed to highlight the importance of nutrition and hydration in improving the safety and outcomes of patients.

The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust ran different menu themes on each weekday:

• Monday – Oaty Breakfast
• Tuesday – Supper-time Snack
• Wednesday – Global Tea Party (cream tea)
• Thursday – Thirsty Thursday
• Friday – Fishy Friday

Patients were encouraged to drink more water and fluids and each day were given information and advice about nutrition and hydration on the back of their menu cards.

Staff at Bideford Community Hospital and on some wards at NDDH were able to try some patient food samples from the Trust’s suppliers.

Andrea Bell, assistant director of nursing (acute) and head of professional practice for the Trust, said: “We know that good nutritional care, adequate hydration and enjoyable mealtimes can improve general health and wellbeing, as well as increase resistance to disease and improve recovery from illness, trauma or surgery.

“We support a multi-disciplinary approach to nutritional care and value the contribution of all staff groups working in partnership with patients to ensure their needs are met.

“The awareness week offered an excellent opportunity to reinforce the significance of good nutrition and hydration in our patients’ holistic care.

“We received some excellent feedback from patients and staff at NDDH and across our community hospitals.

“Patients especially liked the cream tea and some asked if it could be included as a menu option more often!

“I am excited to see the results of the world record attempt to participate in the largest Global Tea Party”

Fortescue, the dedicated dementia ward at NDDH, held a Lunch Club each day to help patients interact with staff during mealtimes and support their rehabilitation and independence.

The Lunch Club concept was also offered to patients on other wards at NDDH.

Lucy Bates, interim ward sister on Fortescue, said: “Patient feedback has been very positive and our staff plan to make the Lunch Club a regular part of everyday practice.

“We have also been working with the housekeeping staff to look at ways we can better support our more vulnerable patients with their nutritional needs.

“The ward has an open visiting policy which helps to support initiatives from John’s Campaign, such as staff actively encouraging relatives and carers to visit during mealtimes to support patients’ nutritional requirements.”

The aim of Nutrition and Hydration Week is to create “a global movement that will reinforce and focus energy, activity and engagement on nutrition and hydration as an important part of quality care, experience and safety improvement in health and social care settings”.

The campaign was previously led by the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA), National Association of Care Catering (NACC) and Patient Safety First.