National Service Excellence day

The Catering Department at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust is always keen to improve patient's food services and to adopt new initiatives which will enhance patient mealtimes and food services at ward level.

Early in July, the Trust supported the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) National Service Excellence Day by promoting the services that we offer at East Sussex Hospitals.

Michelle Clements, Catering Manager, said, "Display stands were based in both the staff restaurants and in the main entrance at Conquest hospital, advertising and promoting some of the good work that we have implemented so far, such as Protected Meal times, Snack boxes, Special Dietary menus and food services training."

The National Service Excellence Day was organised by the HCA to help kick start a nationwide campaign that encourages greater focus on food services at ward level.

Michelle continued, "Improving standards is more than just about the quality of the food on the plate, it is about enhancing a patients whole mealtime experience.

"The catering department will be working closely with ward staff to look at ways of ensuring that the patient bedside eating environment and the patient is prepared for their meal, for example by ensuring that ward staff assist with hand washing and making sure that the bedside table is clear and at a level which allows the patient to reach and eat their food.

"We will also be looking at how we can achieve further excellence in presentation covering areas such as presentation of food on the plate or the feasibility of using hand wipes / coloured serviettes etc."

Other service considerations to be looked into are: investigating the benefits of playing music at ward level during meal times or staging theme meal occasions to celebrate social events.

One of the most important steps towards improving the nutritional status and recovery process of patients is tackling the failings that currently exist within the food service at ward level and ensuring the importance of mealtimes is recognised as being essential to the well being of patients as any of their medical treatment.