16.10.12
New principles to improve hospital food
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed plans to increase the quality, nutritional value, choice and availability of hospital food for patients.
The scheme aims to improve public and patient perceptions of hospital food, following a pilot in which a team of assessors (constituted of at least half patients), reviewed hospital food standards across the country.
The Campaign for Better Hospital Food reported that 67% of hospital workers wouldn’t be happy eating the food they serve to patients, and that over 30 million hospital meals are left uneaten a year by patients in England.
The principles aim to introduce the following improvements: more nutritious and appetising food and drink provided to patients; a larger menu, which should also take into account dietary and religious needs; access to fresh drinking water should be provided at all times, unless clinical advice states otherwise; staff and visitors should also benefit from healthier meal options; Government Buying Standards for Food should be adopted whenever possible; regular feedback and evaluation measures of food standards should be set out by hospitals; and the NHS should promote and reward excellence in hospital food standards.
Hunt commented: “Patients should be treated with dignity and respect. They have the right to expect food that is of high quality and healthy – and that it has been prepared in a clean kitchen.
“There are lots of hospitals already doing this, but in some places, the NHS falls short. Patients deserve the highest standards, and by making sure they lead the inspections, we will put their experience at the heart of improving the NHS.”
The measures are expected to be implemented next year; pilot results are to be examined and a full programme is expected to begin in April 2013. The initiative sits among a review of patient cleanliness, privacy and dignity in hospitals across the country.
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