Meeting documents

            Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 03/10/2005 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A6 Issues from Patient Forums - Patient Forum for the Acute Trust - Food for Thought - An Investigation into Catering

Purpose of Report

1. To explain an investigation carried out by the Patient Forum for the Acute Trust into catering services.

Background

2. The Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Patient and Public Involvement Forum has carried out an investigation into hospital catering. They visited the majority of hospitals covered by the Acute Trust and have produced a report setting out their conclusions.

3. The broad provision is that members were very impressed by the standard of the food which they saw and the co-operation of staff. The report indicates that there was good practice in relation to food being served to patients by nursing staff so that they were encouraged to eat. This good practice needed to be applied throughout the Trust. The report suggests that patients should not be disturbed on wards during meal times, that patients should be regularly monitored to ensure that they are receiving a good diet and that patients should receive adequate portions. The issue of sourcing and preparing food locally was also raised.

4. This is an interesting example of the work of a Patient Forum seeking to establish standards and recommend improvements.

Recommendation

5. You are asked to note this report.

Attachments

 Item 6 Covering Rep pdf.pdf;
 Item 6 pdf.pdf