Press Releases

The Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) reaction to Soil Association Survey

The Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) gives its reaction to the survey conducted last December for the Soil Association’s into patients’ views of hospital food which was published on Monday 7 February 2011 and issued to the media.

Kevan Wallace, Chair, Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) says:

“The survey appears to have been conducted with a sample of 1000 people who have either stayed in hospital themselves or who have had a family member in hospital within the previous six month period. I would say that some of the findings need greater clarification whilst others raise a number of questions as to the basis upon which the data was collected. For example, if over a third (35%) of people apparently thought hospital meals were not acceptable - does that mean, therefore, that two thirds (65%) did find them acceptable?”

“The Better Hospital Food Programme did catalyse change and significant improvements were achieved which continue in many hospitals today. I am pleased to see that the Soil Association has acknowledged some good practice around the country but, it appears, only where hospitals have been able to source organic food from local farms and suppliers. Not all Trust caterers can or want to do this for many reasons - the prohibitive premium prices charged for organic food, the uncertainty of sustained bulk supply from local producers and the seasonality of popular local foods which patients expect all year round”.

“What is also surprising is that the Soil Association survey sits at complete odds with the most recent PEAT findings. Although the BHF Programme is no longer active, food standards continue to be monitored using the PEAT (Patient Environment Action Teams) process and as a result, NHS Trusts cannot afford to allow food to slip off their radar. PEAT assessments are carried out on an annual basis to assess the standard of food in individual Trust sites. The most recent PEAT scores* for food in 2010 revealed that 96% of hospitals achieved either good (39%) or excellent (57%). None received poor or unacceptable scores. Regardless of whether dishes are prepared in a hospital kitchen on site or prepared off site by another hospital kitchen within the Trust or an outside supplier, all dishes must conform to strict quality standards. Hospital caterers work to a strict standard set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which is Outcome 5 - Meeting Nutritional Needs. The Guidance has been jointly set by the CQC and the Royal College of Nursing and is the basis for regular assessments by the CQC of a Trust’s catering services.”
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“The area where more work must be done to ensure that the standard and quality of food at the point when it leaves the kitchens is the same as when it arrives with the patient on the ward, is in the improvement of inter-clinical and catering team communication. This would help to create better food service on the ward so that patients, for example, do not receive tepid food, the wrong meals or that meals are delivered to patients while they have gone for treatment. More effective systems need to be in place on wards. For example, a red tray system for elderly patients who might need particular nutritional observation, special diets or assistance with eating and Ward Waitresses/Hostesses to help ensure food arrives with the patient with the right standard of presentation on the plate”.

“In this period of economic uncertainty and public spending cuts, NHS budgets are being squeezed with hospital caterers in the position of having to satisfy two ‘masters’ - the hospital patients at one end and the NHS Trust Boards at the other. Caterers are doing their best to create acceptable meals for patients on ever tightening budgets. Freshly sourced ingredients and higher quality food can only be achieved if greater funding is provided, due to the higher costs associated with sourcing and preparing them”.

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Contact: Hazel Green, National Press Officer - HCA
T: 01932 253184 E: HaGreen7@aol.com
14 February 2011

14 February 2011

Notes:
Patient Environment Actions Teams (PEAT) is an annual assessment of inpatient healthcare sites in England with more than 10 beds and was established in 2000 as a benchmarking tool to ensure improvements are made in the non-clinical aspects of a patient’s healthcare experience. In 2010, 1242 sites from 323 Trusts took part in the PEAT assessment. For more information, visit the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) website at: www.npsa.nhs.uk