Citation
(2005), "Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) National Day of Choice 12 May 2005 Key Message: Delivering Choice", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 35 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2005.01735cab.015
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) National Day of Choice 12 May 2005 Key Message: Delivering Choice
Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) National Day of Choice 12 May 2005 Key Message: Delivering Choice
On the National Day of Choice the HCA seeks to make permanent changes to the services it delivers, changes that provide patients with choices, choices that make a real difference.
The following list gives some examples of the choices to be made:
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Extend the lunch or supper menu and offer all patients.
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Add at least one additional main menu option.
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Routinely offer patients additional food or beverages at each mealtime.
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Extend the existing range of hot or cold beverages with the addition of one or more beverage choice e.g. Decaffeinated Coffee, or offer a selection of tea.
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Provide menu choices that enable and support patients to select 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day.
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Empower patients to choose by providing information on the food services available e.g. menus displayed via the bedside TV.
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Empower ward-based teams and support them to deliver information on Food Services to patients.
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Provide solutions that enable patients to choose foods that support the sustainability agenda e.g. Fair Trade goods, organic milk.
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Provide patients with the opportunity to eat meals away from the bedside.
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Provide patients with the opportunity to eat with family and friends.
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Provide patients with the opportunity to eat meals free from avoidable interruptions, "Protected Mealtimes".
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Provide patients with the choice of when to eat.
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Provide patients with the opportunity to select meals at the point of service or no more than four hours in advance.
The key focus will be on making real change, offering patients choices that are not currently routinely delivered.
The HCA will provide further information on the event and a registration form in the next edition of the Hospital Caterer magazine. However, the HCA is keen to hear of ideas or initiatives in the promotion of this event that can be included. Please send your comments, thoughts and ideas to Ian.Robinson@Salisbury.nhs.uk