New UK Hospital Food Guidance Welcomed by the British Dietetic Association
The BDA is the professional association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with over 7,000 members.
16 Oct 2012 --- The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has welcomed the news that The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, has issued eight ‘Statements of Expectation’ outlining what would be expected of hospital food, including hydration, in England.
The BDA is the professional association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with over 7,000 members.
Speaking about today’s announcement, BDA Chairman, Helen Davidson, said: “Today’s announcement by the Secretary of State is very much welcomed and a definite step in the right direction. Having good food in our hospitals is a basic human right without a question.”
“The BDA considers that appropriate good nutrition, meeting the clinical and personal needs of all, must be a priority. The potential for good nutrition to improve hospital care is huge. Malnutrition should not be, but is, a very real and current problem within the UK population that needs urgent attention. Improving hospital food is part of the solution.
“We welcome the Government’s buying standards as a basis for good food in hospitals but urge Government to recognise that nutritional standards designed for the majority may need to be adapted for those with increased nutritional needs.
“The BDA urges Commissioners and regulators to recognise the value and potential cost savings of developing high quality catering services as part of a package of care to improve health, and welcomes patient led inspections as key to placing service users at the heart of healthcare.
“We look forward to working with the Department of Health in helping hospitals achieve these expectations.”
The eight ‘Statements of Expectation’ issued are:
1. Nutritious and appetising hospital food is an essential part of the personal package of care and hospitals should take all reasonable steps to ensure that patients have a healthy food experience.
2. All patients should be able to choose from a reasonably varied menu that meets their social and religious needs whilst complementing their clinical care requirements.
3. All patients should have access at all times to fresh drinking water, unless this is contraindicated by their clinical condition.
4. Access to food and drink outside planned mealtimes should be available where appropriate.
5. Hospitals should promote a healthy diet to their staff and visitors.
6. The criteria set out in the Government Buying Standards for Food should be adopted as standard where practical and supported by procurement practices.
7. Hospitals should regularly evaluate their food services and act on feedback from patients, demonstrating improvement and aiming to achieve and maintain excellence.
8. Commissioners of NHS-funded care should seek and reward excellence in hospital food when contracting services.
