Protected mealtimes: information for patients, visitors and relatives

Introduction

Protected mealtimes are in place on all wards to ensure that patients have a dedicated mealtime, free from as many interruptions as possible. Protected mealtimes will help create a quiet, relaxed atmosphere for patients to enjoy their meal.

Protected mealtimes will vary between wards but will generally be:

Lunch: 12:00 – 14:00

Dinner/ Supper: 17:00 – 19:00

For details of specific wards protected mealtimes see the individual ward web pages.

What are protected mealtimes?

This is a period of time set aside for lunch and dinner when all non-essential activities on the wards will stop. The nurses and ward assistants will be available to serve the food and give help to patients who may need it. This will prevent unnecessary interruptions to mealtimes.

Protected mealtimes remain in place on all ward areas, however visitors will be able to stay and support during this time.

The presentation of food in hospitals is important to ensure that meals are tempting, even to those with the poorest appetites. The only true measure of success is how much food is eaten. We have introduced a protected mealtime service to help our patients get the most nutrition and benefit from the food provided.

Red trays, jugs and beakers

Some patients may be given their meals/drinks on a red tray, jug or beaker. This is a prompt to staff that these patients may need additional support or assistance with eating their meals or having drinks.

Other support at mealtimes

We understand that while in hospital some patients may need some extra support at mealtimes. This might be with adapted cutlery, plates or glasses/cups. For others this might be about needing more time to eat, needing food plated in a certain way or the ward environment to be such that it supports people to focus on their meal. We encourage patients, their family or friends to speak with the Nurse in Charge, Dietitian, Speech and Language therapist or Medical team about this. We know that creating the right environment to focus on mealtimes is really important and we are committed to facilitating and supporting people at mealtimes.

Who will be on the ward at mealtimes?

As well as the patients, the only people on the ward will be nursing staff, ward assistants, carers/ volunteers trained to assist patients with their meal. They will all have the same aim: to help, encourage and monitor the patient’s food intake during their mealtime and make it an enjoyable experience.

Please be assured that all emergency treatments will still be dealt with.

If you are visiting a friend or loved one you can help by encouraging the person to eat and drink providing this aligns to their medical plan for the day (e.g. they are not supposed to eat or drink because they are going for an operation). Please speak with the Nurse in Charge if you would like to help support you loved one around mealtimes

Missed meals

If you are an inpatient, sometimes it is important that you have a procedure or scan at a set time. If you have missed a meal for this reason or felt unwell and consequently missed a meal, please talk to the nursing staff who will be able to arrange a hot meal or snack box for you. You can ask for a missed meal at any time of day.

What can relatives or visitors do to help?

If you normally visit at mealtimes to help your relative or friend eat, or just to give encouragement, we are happy for you to continue to do this. Please ask the Nurse in Charge how you can help.

If possible, please try to avoid telephoning the ward, or your relative, for information during these times so the staff can concentrate on helping the patients with their meal.

Together we can make sure that all our patients are given the appropriate help and the required time to eat and enjoy their meals uninterrupted. This is a key requirement for good nutrition and will help them to recover more quickly.

Contacts

Please talk to the nursing staff if you have any questions regarding protected mealtimes.