Protected Meal Times Initiative
Good nutrition and meal times are an important part of treatment and care and help aid recovery. Food needs to be tasty, attractive and tempting. But equally important is the environment our patients eat in, and the availability of staff to assist and encourage them.
Protected Meal Times means that meal times are valued. This involves preventing or minimising unnecessary interruptions and distractions, ensuring all patients enjoy their food and eat as well as possible so as to aid recovery. It creates a more relaxed and calm atmosphere, giving patients time to socialise and digest their food. Patients who are able will be encouraged to use the dining room to eat their meals away from their bedside, in a more sociable eating environment.
If you visit a ward which is displaying a Protected Meal Time Poster, please respect this and try to visit outside of the meal times stated, unless you are involved in assisting your family member to eat their meals. If possible, please try to avoid telephoning the ward for information during these times so that staff can concentrate on helping the patients.
