Category: Care Homes

A stark variation in the quality of care homes at a regional and local authority level across England has been highlighted by new research. The North West is the worst performing region in England when it comes to the proportion of satisfactory care homes, whilst London is the best performing region. In some areas such…

Hospital shops and cafes have been given until the end of the year to reduce their sales of sugary drinks. NHS England is demanding a reduction in sales of sugar-laden drinks to 10% of all drinks sales in a bid to reduce the nation’s growing obesity epidemic. The stringent rules mean sweet fizzy drinks, coffees…

Campaigners are calling for legal food standards governing hospital food. Supporters of the Campaign for Better Hospital Food want the government to enforce strict standards on meals served in hospitals in the same way that food in schools and prisons is policed. The call follows the publication of the campaign group’s Taking the Pulse of…

With hospital food hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons again this year, why is it so challenging to serve fresh, nutritious and tasty food to patients? It’s not difficult at all, says Hazel Read, FM support services manager, for Solent NHS Trust. According to the Campaign for Better Hospital Food:• 400,000 uneaten hospital meals…

“Workplace wellbeing” is being targeted as a key area of this year’s Nutrition and Hydration Week (March 13-19). The organisers of the awareness week are expanding their reach in a bid to improve employee awareness of their own hydration and nutritional requirements. Derek Johnson, partner, Nutrition and Hydration Associates, explains: “Last year we received numerous…

Care caterers are being urged to get involved in Nutrition and Hydration Week, which takes place from March 13 – 19. Originally a collaboration between the Hospital Caterers Association, NACC and the Patient Safety Domain NHS England, the week has now become a truly global event with a life of its own. The date for…

Putting the care into catering Care caterers face very different challenges to other sectors of the industry. As Neel Radia, national chair, National Association of Care Catering (NACC), explains: “The complex dietary and dining needs of elderly people can make them more susceptible to malnutrition and dehydration and related illnesses. Food intolerances, reduced appetites, dysphagia…