Nutritional Experts Say Hospital Food Ticks All the Right Boxes
Food is an essential part of patient care – and dieticians in Cambridge are working hard to ensure a ‘robust and exciting’ menu is offered to all hospital patients, whatever their needs. Working practise and success of this theory is demonstrated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, largely due to the vision and understanding of Lifespan Catering Services.
Peterborough, United Kingdom, December 05, 2009 --(PR.com)-- “Food and drink is the most basic medicine for the body”, says diabetes / catering dietician and educator Helen Davies – “particularly for hospital patients recovering from illness or surgery”.
So when it comes to hospital food, a well-balanced, well-cooked and nicely presented meal is just what the doctor ordered.
Over the past two years, a dedicated team from Patient Catering and Dietetics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital have been working closely with Lifespan Catering Services from Fulbourn to ensure patients receive healthy, nutritious and tasty meals.
Lifepsan Catering Services is part of the NHS shared services provider Anglia Support Partnership and prepares and produces around 24,000 portions of hospital food every single day – much of which is delivered to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
The team, under the leadership of head of catering services Trevor Colcomb, provides a complete meal service from hot ‘cook chill’ meals to sandwiches and even cheese and biscuits.
Helen said: “I am personally involved with helping to analyse all dishes offered to our patients, including special diet menus, snacks and beverages to ensure we are adhering to strict nutritional criteria set by our dietetics department.
“We liaise closely with Lifespan Catering Services whenever we feel there is an opportunity to expand our menu choices and ensure that we can offer all patients, regardless of their special dietary needs, excellent choice at point of service.
And Trevor and the team take on board all requests with enthusiasm and vigor.
Recent developments have included:
- Responding to the cardiology dietician’s request for the more oily fish dishes with Omega 3 content. Lifepsan Catering Services produced several options including Salmon Portugaise, fresh tuna pasta bake and chickpea salad which are now benefitting heart patients.
- The trial production of a range of spicy and flavoursome dishes for cancer patients who have lost their sense of taste as a result of treatment has been a success, following a request from the haematology dietician.
- Putting together child-friendly pureed dishes for young patients with cleft palette or who have had an operation on their mouth or throat. Lifespan Catering Services came up with tasty options including pureed pots of fish pie, shepherds pie and beef casserole. All met with approval from the paediatric dieticians and play specialists.
- A review of the missed meal service to ensure that everyone has access to hot food and drink 24 hours a day through a range of plated hot meals, including an all day breakfast and a patient favourite – chicken tikka masala.
Trevor said: “We work very closely with the dietetic experts, and every portion of food we produce fulfils the nutritional or special dietary requirements we are given. It is a pleasure to know that our food is not only being enjoyed by hospital patients, but helping them on their road to recovery.”
Helen added: “Unfortunately, with so much negative press that surrounds hospital food, we face an ongoing battle against preconceived ideas the public have about the food service in hospital. However, with a dedicated team of dieticians, caterers and collaboration with our patients on a regular basis, the patients can be confident that the food they receive is balanced, nutritious and tailored to their individual needs wherever possible.”
Lifespan Catering Services also delivers its ‘cook –chill’ meals to hospital patients in Leicester, Norfolk and London.
For more press information contact Cetti Long at Media Matters on (01733) 371363 or email: cetti@mediamatters-pr.co.uk Lifespan Catering Services head of catering Trevor Colcomb on 01223 8841111 or Anglia Support Partnership head of communications Helen Fulcher on 01480 398633.
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So when it comes to hospital food, a well-balanced, well-cooked and nicely presented meal is just what the doctor ordered.
Over the past two years, a dedicated team from Patient Catering and Dietetics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital have been working closely with Lifespan Catering Services from Fulbourn to ensure patients receive healthy, nutritious and tasty meals.
Lifepsan Catering Services is part of the NHS shared services provider Anglia Support Partnership and prepares and produces around 24,000 portions of hospital food every single day – much of which is delivered to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
The team, under the leadership of head of catering services Trevor Colcomb, provides a complete meal service from hot ‘cook chill’ meals to sandwiches and even cheese and biscuits.
Helen said: “I am personally involved with helping to analyse all dishes offered to our patients, including special diet menus, snacks and beverages to ensure we are adhering to strict nutritional criteria set by our dietetics department.
“We liaise closely with Lifespan Catering Services whenever we feel there is an opportunity to expand our menu choices and ensure that we can offer all patients, regardless of their special dietary needs, excellent choice at point of service.
And Trevor and the team take on board all requests with enthusiasm and vigor.
Recent developments have included:
- Responding to the cardiology dietician’s request for the more oily fish dishes with Omega 3 content. Lifepsan Catering Services produced several options including Salmon Portugaise, fresh tuna pasta bake and chickpea salad which are now benefitting heart patients.
- The trial production of a range of spicy and flavoursome dishes for cancer patients who have lost their sense of taste as a result of treatment has been a success, following a request from the haematology dietician.
- Putting together child-friendly pureed dishes for young patients with cleft palette or who have had an operation on their mouth or throat. Lifespan Catering Services came up with tasty options including pureed pots of fish pie, shepherds pie and beef casserole. All met with approval from the paediatric dieticians and play specialists.
- A review of the missed meal service to ensure that everyone has access to hot food and drink 24 hours a day through a range of plated hot meals, including an all day breakfast and a patient favourite – chicken tikka masala.
Trevor said: “We work very closely with the dietetic experts, and every portion of food we produce fulfils the nutritional or special dietary requirements we are given. It is a pleasure to know that our food is not only being enjoyed by hospital patients, but helping them on their road to recovery.”
Helen added: “Unfortunately, with so much negative press that surrounds hospital food, we face an ongoing battle against preconceived ideas the public have about the food service in hospital. However, with a dedicated team of dieticians, caterers and collaboration with our patients on a regular basis, the patients can be confident that the food they receive is balanced, nutritious and tailored to their individual needs wherever possible.”
Lifespan Catering Services also delivers its ‘cook –chill’ meals to hospital patients in Leicester, Norfolk and London.
For more press information contact Cetti Long at Media Matters on (01733) 371363 or email: cetti@mediamatters-pr.co.uk Lifespan Catering Services head of catering Trevor Colcomb on 01223 8841111 or Anglia Support Partnership head of communications Helen Fulcher on 01480 398633.
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Lifespan Catering Services
Angie Bull
01733 371363
Angie Bull
01733 371363
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