Meal Ordering for Inpatients

Patient Meal Ordering Information

Patient Menus

Patient menus are sent to the ward by the Catering Department on a daily basis.

Meals should only be ordered for patients who have actually been admitted to the ward and they should choose their own meals in the majority of circumstances. This helps to control the amount of food wasted at ward level.

Menus should be given out at ward level to patients as late as possible on each ward to reduce the time between ordering and delivery.

Lunch and supper menus should be returned intact to the Catering Department and not split. A ward menu ordering procedure is available on each ward.

BRI

Menus will be delivered on the lunchtime trolley for meals the next day. Menus must be returned to the Catering Department by 09.00 hours the same day otherwise bulk numbers cannot be accurately calculated.

SLH

Menus will be delivered to the ward on the Evening or Breakfast trolley ( as current procedure). Menus should be returned to the Catering Department by 14.00 hours.

Admissions

For patients who are admitted between meals and there is sufficient time to order a hot meal, the snack box option must not be chosen.

SLH

Hot meals for patients who are admitted can be ordered on the same day, for lunch up to 11.00 hours and for supper up to 16.00 hours. These meals will then be delivered along with the rest of the ward's meals.

BRI

Hot meals for patients who are admitted can be ordered on the same day for lunch up to 11.45 hours to be delivered by porters or 12.30 hours to be collected by nursing staff, and for supper up to 17.00 hours to be delivered by porters or 18.00 hours to be collected by nursing. These meals will then be delivered with the rest of the ward's meals.

Guidance for Visitors bringing food items to Adult Patients in Hospital

Sick people are more likely to pick up infections from food and also more likely to get serious infections than healthy people. The Trust has prepared a list of foods suitable for bringing as gifts to adult inpatients.

However, many patients are on special diets, so if in doubt, always check with the Ward Sister that your gift is suitable for the patients you are visiting. Food brought in should not be shared with other people on the ward for these reasons.

Suitable Foods

These are unlikely to contain the germs that cause food poisoning.

• Fresh fruit - please ensure that skins have been washed where appropriate.
• Beverages - fruit juice, cordials, squashes and glucose drinks.
• Preserves jams and marmalade.
• Savoury snacks crisps, nuts etc.
• Biscuits; all kinds are suitable.
• Sweet, chocolates, boiled sweets, confectionery.
• Cakes and buns -plain or fruit varieties but not those containing cream or custard, vanilla slices or trifle.

Warning

Sandwiches containing cooked meats, fish, eggs or other protein fillings and made up meat products such as pies, pastries, scotch eggs, etc. are considered to be high risk articles as far as food poisoning is concerned.

These foods are not recommended for hospital patients/residents unless prepared in hospital kitchens. If such foods are brought in they must, where possible, be eaten during the visit, and eaten only by your own relative or friend, not shared with other people on the Ward.

These foods should not be stored or re-heated in microwaves on the ward to reduce the possibility of food poisoning. If the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse gives consent for food storage, it must be labelled with the patient's name and date before putting in the fridge.

Suitable Snacks to Order for Patients Choosing Small Meal & Snack Options on Menu

If a small meal is ordered the patient will receive a mid-afternoon and evening snack to supplement their nutritional intakes.

These will be supplied with the meal for the next break-time.

One of the following snacks will be sent;

• 2 x digestive/custard creams/assorted sweet biscuits
• Chocolate biscuit eg Club, Penguin Cake
• Processed cheese triangle and crackers