“A Huge Success”

Loyd Grossman Launches It,
Health Minister Commends It,
Media Reports It and UK Health Professionals Do It!

4th March 2004 - HCA National Protected Mealtimes Day

After what has been an unbelievably hectic three months (especially for Ian Robinson the Chair of the GP Committee) in which time the first HCA National Event was planned, promoted and launched we are very glad to be able to report it was a huge success.

News has been coming into the Hospital Caterer from all over the UK from participating hospitals who have been protecting mealtimes and putting Food First.

More on this later.

The idea behind the day was to promote the Hospital Caterers Association beyond its Membership as well as to highlight the work of the Hospital Caterer across the Health Service. The GP Committee chose Protected Mealtimes as its theme firstly because it is such a hot topic, secondly because it is very patient focused and thirdly because it is something that involves the Hospital Caterer with many other disciplines within the Health Service.

Loyd Grossman OBE, Honorary Patron of the HCA, officially launched the initiative at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. Representatives from the NHS, medical, nursing, dietetics and patient organisations attended the event including the British Dietetic Association, the Royal College of Nursing and The Patients Association.

Over three hundred hospitals across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland registered for the HCA’s National Protected Mealtimes Day and all those involved were committed to make patient Mealtimes free from unnecessary interruptions and are keen to see this as NHS Trust policy.

The Health Minister Lord Warner highly commended the HCA initiative and sent a message of support for the launch.

He said, “The environment in which food is served plays a big part in how much is eaten and people’s perceptions about quality… I make the point that it only seeks to apply to hospital wards what we try to do in our own homes which is to make Mealtimes a time of pleasure.”

Despite the efforts of Florence Nightingale who, in 1859, wrote in her Notes on Nursing, “Nothing shall be done in the ward while the patients are having their meal”, hospital patients have often found their Mealtime experience in the following 145 years anything but interruption-free. With ward activity continuing throughout Mealtimes, patients rarely enjoy their food in a quiet and relaxed environment.

Patients, particularly in the majority of acute hospitals, still find their Mealtimes interrupted by unnecessary ward activity such as cleaning, maintenance, bed changing and ward rounds. There is increasing concern that interrupted Mealtimes undermine appetite and if patients cannot complete or miss their meal for whatever reason, this will have a detrimental effect on nutritional intake and wellbeing. The principles of protected Mealtimes are to ensure patients are given assistance and support to eat in an environment as conducive to eating as possible.

Loyd Grossman said, “It’s common sense that if patients are able to eat in comfort, they will eat more. I am also keen for patients to be given the opportunity to eat their meals at a table in a social setting with relatives and friends where this is possible. I am told that social interaction at Mealtimes has a positive impact on appetite and leads to more food being eaten. We are asking hospitals to look closely at clinical and other ward routines to find out exactly what they do, and when they do it. They need to ask the simple question - does it have to happen at Mealtimes?”.

Susan Jones, Chairman of the British Dietetic Association said, “The Better Hospital Food Programme has done much to improve the quality and availability of food in hospitals in England. However, the nutritional benefits of this will not be realised unless patients are provided with the right environment and time in which to eat the food served to them. Food, however good and however plentiful, has no nutritional value unless it is eaten”.

Although buoyed by the success of the event, the HCA see this very much as a starting point. As stated improved nutrition does speed recovery and recuperation but it is agreed that we need to understand a lot more about the science of this before we can make too many more specific claims. Therefore NHS Estates have undertaken to fund further research at leading nutrition centres to expand and improve the evidence base so that hospitals, when making decisions about their food and nutrition services, will have the evidence they need at their disposal. This is not quick work but they hope to see something emerging from it within 12-18 months.

The Royal College of Nursing fully support the principles of Protected Mealtimes and are keen to get involved. They are pleased that the HCA through its work on National Protected Mealtimes Day is empowering the Nurse - ie putting them at the centre of the Mealtimes experience. They are featuring it at their RCN Congress later this year and are working again with NHS Estates on a series of Roadshows over the next few months to help promote Protected Mealtimes. Please contact Ian Robinson (ian.robinson60@btopenworld.com) if you would like a presentation at your Trust or at a Branch Meeting.

The Essence of Care food and nutrition benchmark states that, “the environment should be conducive to enabling individual patients to eat - and that they should receive the care and assistance they require with eating and drinking”.

A recent resolution from the Council of Europe advised that, “interruption of patients’ meal times by ward rounds, teaching and diagnostic procedures should be minimised” and, “the hospital-eating environment should be improved with a focus on surroundings and the presence of personnel”.

So - there is a mass of informed, professional opinion saying that Protected Mealtimes are good for patients. We must - therefore - support this as much as possible so that more and more hospitals adopt the programme - and so that more and more patients benefit from it each and every day. We must ask hospitals to look closely at clinical and other ward routines to find out exactly what they do, and when they do it. They must ask themselves the simple question - does it have to happen at Mealtimes?

As Loyd said in his speech on March 4th it was fitting that the HCA launched the event at St Thomas’s hospital - where Florence Nightingale worked over a century ago. We all think that she will be applauding and supporting the Hospital Caterers Association Protected Mealtimes Day - it’s a very simple message - “Let’s put food first at Mealtimes.”

News about the HCA National Protected Mealtimes Day was released directly after Council had ratified all the details. The Journal carried a piece about it (together with the Registration Form) in December and again in February and information appeared on the website. So all systems go.

Hospitals registered and the hard work began.

Preparations

Tony McElhone at Medway Hospital set up a display in the staff restaurant to explain the idea behind, “Protecting Mealtimes”. He told Hospital Caterer all about it, “We supplied booklets and A4 size leaflets and initially the response was as expected, staff were pretty indifferent and the public were concerned that their visiting would be curtailed. However we were able to explain to them what it was all about and most people were fully in favour of the initiative once they understood where we were coming from.”

Claire Hewett, Ward Housekeeper Facilitator (Member HCA East Anglia Branch) registered three Community Hospitals in Norfolk - St Michael’s Hospital in Aylsham, Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich and Kelling Hospital in Holt. Together with Carol Lendrum Deputy Facilities Manager (HCA Member East Anglia Branch) and Victoria Marks, Community Dietitian, they raised support from East Support Services Management Board and then invited the Sisters and Housekeepers from the chosen sites to meet to plan the day. Claire told Hospital Caterer, “They returned to their Hospitals full of enthusiasm to spread the word and the Housekeepers at each site produced informative display boards to advertise the initiative to visitors, clinical and non-clinical staff. New crockery, cutlery, tablecloths and floral arrangements were purchased to enhance the dining areas.” 

Bernie Grimes, Hotel Services Contracts Manager of Sperrin Lakeland Trust (Chairman HCA Northern Ireland Branch) told us how the Trust launched a Protected Mealtimes Pilot to coincide with the HCA Day. “Having secured support from the Trust’s senior management team, staff at ward level were briefed in preparation for the formation of a multi-disciplinary team to consider the implications for all service providers. A leaflet has been produced to inform and encourage co-operation by visitors to participating wards at both the Trust’s acute hospitals during the six-week pilot. We also recently carried out an observational audit of existing mealtime’s practice in advance of the new initiative. All work is being co-ordinated by Anne Gormley, Chief Dietitian, with the assistance of postgraduate student Gary Quinn.”

Pam Stansfield (Secretary HCA North West Branch) also used the HCA National Protected Mealtimes Day as the day to launch a pilot programme on Ward 5 at Royal Oldham Hospital. The trial is also set to begin shortly at other Hospitals within Pennine Acute NHS Trust.

Mike Duckett, Catering Manager at the Royal Brompton Hospital (Member HCA Greater London Branch) advertised the HCA Day on the intranet and was very pleased with the enthusiasm and support given by all the staff. He registered Elizabeth Ward and planned everything down to the last detail. A leaflet was designed for patient’s trays to advertise the event and Danish Pastries were ordered as a midmorning snack. Fruit Punch with ice and fruit was served in glass jugs at lunchtime to patients, visitors and ward staff and during the afternoon a large basket of exotic fruits was delivered to the ward’s day room so that patients could help themselves.

Sonja Brine, (Member HCA North West Branch) and her team also prepared for the day. Once registered she and Noleen Fulop, Assistant Hotel Services Manager, arranged a meeting with their housekeepers to prepare a course of action. Everyone was very enthusiastic - they wanted to “Protect” as many wards as possible. All those involved started to spread the word as well as putting up posters and leaflets around the Hospital.

The Day Itself

It seems from reading so many accounts of the 4th March 2004 that there must have been hundreds of havens of calm and tranquillity all around the UK at lunchtime!

Lee Nash, Food and Beverage Manager at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (Secretary, HCA West Midlands Branch) sums up the day for the overwhelming majority of participating hospitals, “HCA Protected Mealtimes was a great success! The initiative was supported by Board Directors, Consultants (wonderful achievement) and all other disciplines. Complete silence on the wards and ward staff without question felt this should be happening all the time.”

Julie Tonge (Member HCA North West Branch) told Hospital Caterer about how the day went at Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust where they Protected five wards across their three sites. “A conscious effort was made by all ward staff to prepare the environment for the meal service and restrict ward activity, some wards displayed no entry signs and others politely asked clinical visitors to postpone their activity until after mealtime.”

Results of their observational audit showed that:

• Ward staff were organised and available to assist with the meal service.
• Other activities were stopped.
• Bed tables were clear and within reach of the patients.
• No commodes in use at time of meal service.
• The ward was quiet, relaxed and there were no off-putting smells.
• Patients were asked to use a dining area if one available.
• Assistance was given with feeding.
• Record was taken of food consumption.

Julie explained that on a normal day although some wards do already restrict activity at mealtimes others are very busy, can be noisy and patients do get interrupted. The day clearly showed the effectiveness of Protecting Mealtimes. As a consequence of this work they plan to develop a working party with representation from the key stakeholders to develop a Protected Mealtime Policy so as to implement it on as many wards as possible.

Wendy Firth, Catering Services Manager at Airedale Hospital (Member HCA Yorkshire Branch) Protected two wards, Ward 1 and Ward 6. Clinical procedures and routine tasks were re-scheduled so that patients were not unnecessarily disturbed when eating. Wendy explained how they had recently done a lot of work with nursing colleagues looking at what takes place on the wards over the lunchtime period and were therefore very keen to participate in the national campaign. Sister Marie Hudson who had been involved in some of the work was very pleased with how the day went and with the co-operation from other colleagues who rearranged some of their visits to the ward so that patients were left to eat in peace.

Simon Moody, Deputy Hotel Services Manager Ulster Hospital, was also pleased after a successful day. A number of wards at the Hospital already work on the basis of Protected Mealtimes but they included three further wards on the 4th March - Craig, Mitchell and Rea. Posters were issued, stickers passed out and the day went well with markedly less interruptions (except for husbands/partners being allowed into the maternity units at the expected time!). From a catering department point of view, Simon looks forward to further initiatives to encourage more wards to take up Protected Mealtimes. He told Hospital Caterer, “We try to take the holistic view that if patients eat well (which they do in a quieter less disturbed environment) then they are more likely to recover quicker and return home sooner rather than later.” Simon wanted to take this opportunity to thank the HCA for greatly assisting in the promotion and increasing awareness of Protected Mealtimes to staff and visitors alike.

Melissa Thomson is Hotel Services Manager for South West Dorset Primary Care Trust (HCA Member Wessex Branch) and she registered four wards for the day. She felt that the nurses and patients were equally enthusiastic about the idea and welcomed the initiative. They took lots of data on the day but wanted to share some comments with the Hospital Caterer.

A nurse said, “Oh, Mrs Smith is eating her food today and that’s because she’s not been disturbed”

A patient said, “I really enjoyed my meal today because I haven’t been disturbed by the doctors on their ward rounds, it always seems to be lunch time when they get to me and then my food goes cold - but today they did the ward round after lunch and my meal was lovely.”

It is comments like this that made the whole thing worthwhile and Melissa is keen to put a Report into the Board proposing to put the initiative in full time.

Similar feedback came from the patients at Bridgwater Hospital, part of Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust where patients were able to enjoy their lunch in peace, with no disturbances from ward rounds, drugs trolleys or other people’s visitors. Cherie Turbeville, Matron at Bridgwater Hospital worked closely with all staff at the hospital and made sure that there were no ward rounds or x-rays booked for lunch time. She also asked visitors to avoid coming to see their friends or relatives between 12 noon and 1.30pm wherever possible. Visitors who were willing to help their friends/relatives with their meals however were made welcome. Anna Warman, Catering/Housekeeping Advisor, told Hospital Caterer that as a consequence of the success of the day that they are now reviewing the protected mealtime trial to assess the impact on other staff and services. If possible they will then be looking at ways of introducing the measure on a more permanent basic across all local health services provided by the Trust.

Arlene Barton, Housekeeping Project Manager/Senior Dietitian at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham also reported a similar story. They decided to trial the Protected Mealtime Service on one of the elderly wards at lunchtime. On the day all non-nursing staff (including doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, domestic staff, porters, phlebotomists and pharmacists) were reminded about the plans for the day and asked to stay off the ward between 11.45am and 12.30pm. Off-ward services such as diagnostic imaging, endoscopy etc agreed not to take any patients for non-emergency tests between 11am and 1pm. Arlene told Hospital Caterer that in normal circumstances the dining area on the ward is not used very much but on the day all those patients who were able to be taken to it were moved and sat at the table for their meal. All nursing and care staff were ready to assist with serving the meals and helping patients eat them. Music was also played in the dining room and the overall feel of the ward was very relaxed compared to other days.

Patients’ comments included:

• “It was a pleasant change sitting with other patients having a good chat, more enjoyable than sitting by your bed”.
• “I enjoyed my dinner much more today, talked with fellow patients about my time in the forces”.
• “Found it more calming today, without doctors and physiotherapists about”.
• “I enjoyed sitting at the table and I liked the music, it made me feel calmer”.

Arlene is happy to report that a meeting has already taken place with the Ward Sister to see how they can incorporate these changes into the daily routine.

Alison Grieve, Support Services Manager, at West Park Rehabilitation Hospital worked closely with Rowena Kiddie the Modern Matron at the Hospital to organise the day’s events. They prepared a press release and received a good write up in the local paper as well as appearing on local radio. The day itself went very well, “I don’t know how we managed it but the ward had its quickest ever doctor’s round. When I arrived on the ward as 12.20pm ready for the meal service at 12.45pm the Consultant let me know he was leaving. (It shows how wrong you can be as I thought this is where I would have faced real problems). The atmosphere on the ward was really calm with soothing music, chosen by one of the patients, being played. The telephone only rang once, no nursecall alarms were rung and no patients asked to go to the toilet as all those who had needed to had gone before lunch. Some of the patients ate in the day room (something we had been trying to do for ages) and the tables which had been laid looked lovely. We have had some very positive feedback from the patients who are now looking forward to eating in the day room on a regular basis. The multi-disciplinary team consisting of the Modern Matron, Support Services Manager, Ward Manager, Ward Auxiliary, Ward Housekeeper, Assistant Housekeeping Co-ordinator, Assistant Catering Co-ordinator, Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist Helper all did an excellent job and ensured the day’s success. The Directorate Management Board and the Hospital User Group also supported the initiative.”

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust carried out the day in all three of its hospitals; Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance and St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle and overall the day was a great success. Mike Pearson (HCA National Treasurer) told Hospital Caterer all about it.

“The staff at Penzance couldn’t believe how quiet the ward was, quote - it was a bit like the Marie Celeste! The patients took it all in their stride but the nurses described how much they enjoyed the experience saying that they were much more relaxed and had more time for certain patients, they clearly love the concept and are now clamouring to see it introduced across the Hospital.”

“Royal Cornwall Protected five wards of different disciplines and whilst the problems were greater here, the support from the nurses and departments such as X-Ray was great. We have produced a policy for consideration by the Board and I am about to present the concept to the next Senior Sisters meeting. The balloons that I and everyone in the office blew up and the posters we produced definitely helped the day go well, as did the stand that the dietitians set up in our main restaurant explaining the idea to our staff and visitors.”

“In our Community Hospitals - West of Cornwall PCT, Central Cornwall PCT and North and East Cornwall PCT the day was similarly supported and all reports suggest that everyone enjoyed it and that the concept will become part of their Trusts’ policy. All in all the day went well - everyone we spoke to can see the sense of it, let’s hope that by this time next year it will be standard policy on every single ward throughout Cornwall.”

John Hughes, (Member HCA Trent Branch and Member GP Committee) had wanted to Protect the whole hospital but found it impossible to organise within the timescale. They do already have a long-term pilot running on two wards which is a great success. They added six wards for the day but on Wednesday the 3rd March they did an observational audit on each ward and on the 4th did the same. The contrast on some wards was striking. “The majority were calm controlled places on the day, others were like a Wild West Movie. I don’t think we always see what is going on and it was very good to watch with a newly prescribed set of eyes! I was most impressed by the nursing teams, I got the impression that they want to be in control of the environment and another thing that the day highlighted was that most of our waste comes from unserved meals because the patient is off the ward or unable to eat. We must track these people down to make sure they do eat.” Like so many others of our contributors John is also keen to implement Protected Mealtimes Trust-wide.

Last but by no means least there are Russell Sherry’s experiences at Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust. He has been running a pilot scheme for nearly eight months and on the 4th March he either visited wards or called them to see how the day had gone. He has written a Paper reporting the day’s events.

Russell himself visited Egremont and Catherine James Wards at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. He found the house doctor, Dr Frasier Booth, to be very helpful and learned that he has adjusted his rounds so as not to disturb the patients when eating. Nurses were helping the patients and were very compassionate to some of the more confused patients, all in all it was a very good service and the ward staff and hosting staff worked seamlessly together. He noted that on the previous day hairdressers had come to the ward at lunchtime and were astonished to be asked to leave. They could see no reason why patients couldn’t eat whilst having their hair done! Russell felt that music would help promote an even nicer atmosphere and will look into purchasing lap trays for patients who have difficulty eating at bedside tables.

Russell also visited the Renal Ward at The Royal Sussex. The timing of lunch on this ward has been altered to facilitate the morning drug round. Patients too are very aware of the policy as they receive literature to read about it on admittance to the ward. There was a visitor on the ward at lunchtime but she was there to help with the food service and another patient was being fed in the discharge area which Russell feels would make a very good dining area. Russell noted that it was on this ward that a nurse had been reported by the doctors for being over zealous in her policing of the ward at lunchtime. Russell felt that some of the doctors on the day appeared to be unaware of the principles of Protected Mealtimes and heard comments that it conflicted with good medical patient care! A bit more work to be done there then.

Overall he felt the day went extremely well and has enabled him to identify champions (like Lynn Earl and David Earl on the Renal Ward at Royal Sussex County Hospital and Janet Lewis on C2 at Brighton General Hospital) and areas of good practice. He has also been able to highlight additional benefits of a Protected Mealtimes Service which are not necessarily associated with the service itself. For example on New Timber Ward at Princess Royal Hospital it was noted that all documentation is up to date as nurses can focus on completing nutritional assessments, the nursing staff being acutely aware of the food consumed. The focus on lunchtime has also helped identify special needs such as the requirement to reorder and increase the stocks of adapted cutlery.

He is however aware that the team must not become complacent and that they must continue to develop the service and encourage a greater nursing involvement with this initiative for it to truly succeed in his Trust.

One story that proves the policy must be working is how when he called C2 at Brighton General Hospital in the evening to get feedback from the day he was politely asked to call back because they were still serving the supper, “Perfect!”

Hospital Caterer would like to thank the following people for all the hard work put in when sending stories and pictures of their HCA National Protected Mealtimes Day:
Russell Sherry, John Hughes, Sonja Brine, Andrew Donegan, Anna Warman, Arlene Barton, Sue Batty, Catherine Henderson, Christine Wright, Michael Duckett, Elizabeth Gibbons, Andrew Gamon, Alison Grieve, Bernie Grimes, Caroline Hawkes, Claire Hewett, Angela Hircock, Jane Goldsworthy, John Hughes, Lee Nash, Tony McElhone, Mike Pearson, Neil Watson Jones, Mike Newport, Nicola Strawther, Marc Phillips, Brian Robb, Russell Sherry, Simon Moody, Wendy Firth, Julie Tonge, Melissa Thomson, Andrea Hildred, Andrew Donegan, Lyn Bailey, Neville Morrison, David Williamson, Pam Stansfield.

HCA National Protected Mealtimes Day Feedback

Mike Newport

Royal United Hospital Bath (RUH)
HCA Member: West of England Branch
“The day went well at the RUH. Three wards were involved and Mealtimes when undisturbed for the patients. Consultants, doctors and therapists were very co-operative”.

Paul Nettleton

Ipswich Hospital
At the Ipswich Hospital we had four wards that participated and everyone was very pleasantly surprised at the benefits that were seen. Visitors co-operated willingly, doctors took the opportunity to get their own lunch when they were politely turned away from the wards, serving meals took significantly less time and all the food was hot. The most interesting comment was that at the end of mealtime the ward was serene and the patients were relaxed and ready for their early afternoon rest. “We are going to hold a review meeting and see what can be done to extend Protected Mealtimes to all wards permanently. Whilst there may be benefits to patients there are also great benefits to the Caterer. Operating Protected Mealtimes may be one of the most economic improvements that can be made to patient catering.”

Andrew Donegan

Head of Catering Services, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust
HCA Member: Yorkshire Branch
“Eileen Haigh, Matron for Medicine, was instrumental in getting the day off the ground, she also arranged for Audit to analyse its effectiveness. She told me that from talking to people on and after the day that feedback from patients and staff was overwhelmingly positive. She did hear one or two relatives voicing concern over the initiative when asked to leave. She is however very keen to progress with plans for future implementation.”

Lyn Bailey

Patient and Public Involvement Manager, Macclesfield District Hospital
“We decided to use the day as an awareness raising session and prior to the event we watched the video at our Patient’s Meals Steering Group meeting. We then audited seven wards by using a set form and a person in situ before and during the lunchtime period.”

David Williamson

Support Services Manager, Stratheden Hospital
HCA Council Rep: East of Scotland Branch
“I presented the publicity material at a meeting of Senior Nurses where it was agreed that two wards Dunino and Lomond would take part in the Day. These wards have the greatest difficulty in ensuring an undisturbed Mealtime. On the day all the staff involved wore the stickers and posters were displayed in the two wards and in the hospital dining room. All went well and we were particularly pleased that we had the opportunity to educate staff and visitors about the concept behind protecting the Mealtime experience for the patients.”

Christine Wright

Paediatric Dietitian, Calderdale Royal Hospital
“We only had a small number of patients on the ward on the 4th and some of the mothers had a very limited understanding of English. With the help of the stickers and the posters and careful explanation to the relatives and patients about the importance of protecting the mealtime experience all the staff involved felt it was a very worthwhile exercise. We hope to repeat it very soon.”

Catherine Henderson

Charge Nurse, Ward 7, Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee
“I am a Senior Charge Nurse for an elderly assessment/rehabilitation unit in Dundee. We decided to try Protected Mealtimes on 4th March and loved it! The staff felt things were well organised, calm and quiet. There were no distractions. The patients ate better and said they enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. We will continue to Protect our Mealtimes and best of all the doctors now respect this concept and are to ensure that their rounds are over by lunchtime.”

Angela Hircock

Food Service Manager, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn
HCA Member: East Anglia Branch
“We had four wards taking part on the 4th, two medical and two surgical (Stanhoe, Terrington, Gayton and Elm). All went extremely well on the day, no adverse comments received - many said that the mealtime was strangely quiet - so it must have been a success! Our Director of Nursing, Gwyneth Wilson, is hoping to roll the initiative out Trust-wide in May on National Nurses Day.”

Neville Morrison

Catering Manager, Kettering General Hospital
HCA Member: Oxford Branch
“Our protected mealtime was a relatively successful exercise conducted on one of our paediatric wards. Certainly this initiative was well received by the ward teams at both lunch and supper time, but equally pleasing was the positive response from parents of the children. Our thoughts after the event (although not new) are that designated ward waitresses and communal dining facilities would have aided the experience immensely.”

Marc Phillips

Food Services Manager, Andover War Memorial Hospital
HCA Member: Wessex Branch
“The protected Mealtimes day was a great success here in Andover. I visited all the wards and found no interruptions except the Drugs Round. The high profile achieved for the event together with all the accompanying literature certainly helped eliminate non-essential interruptions to the Mealtime. I would like to commend the whole team of people who worked hard at publicising and running the event. The day has certainly raised some interesting questions as to why uninterrupted Mealtimes can’t happen as a matter of course. We must put the necessary pressure on our Chief Executives.”

Elizabeth Gibbons

Senior Dietitian, Royal Surrey Hospital
“At the Royal Surrey we were delighted to participate in National Protected Mealtimes Day. We have been considering how to implement the initiative for a while. On the 4th March, after much preparation with posters and memos to staff we managed to Protect Level E (five wards) from 12-1pm. It was a team effort, and all the staff on the wards, our Deputy Director of Nursing, our Matrons, our Nutrition Sister and myself cleared the wards and the meal trolleys arrived into deserted territory! Nurses were able to serve meals rather than being distracted by other jobs. The meals were given out very quickly so the patients were fed sooner with hotter food. The nurses were able to observe the patients eating and help with feeding if necessary. The day was declared a great success by all involved. All we have to do now is try and do it every day!”