AMs call for healthier food in hospitals

Chairman Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay said the public accounts committee found a stark difference between what is reported in patient satisfaction surveys and the feedback patients had given them.

He quoted the committee’s 2012 report that called for an all-Wales approach to patient nutrition and assessment of dietary needs at the point of entry.

He added: “We find it unacceptable that this still hasn’t happened and we urge both NHS Wales and the Welsh Government to take action to speed up the process. We found that although training on patient nutrition is mandatory for medical staff, many haven’t undertaken it because of availability, time pressures or other priorities.” We want to see the Welsh Government and health boards do more to put into place the most effective methods for delivering training.”

The committee said they are concerned about the provision of appetising meals for patients as it falls short of the standards they expect with one third of patients saying they received a meal that was unappetising.

There was also concern about the evidence they received about responsibility for catering and patient nutrition on a hospital board level. They said none of the health boards had a non-executive director with responsibility for the area. This means that it is difficult to ensure that necessary changes on wards were being implemented.

The cost of dealing with food waste was another area of concern as is the lack of computerised catering systems and that no decision has been made on how this will be progressed. The committee were advised by the chief nursing officer that nutrition and hydration are as important as medication they received. They said that a balanced and emphasised the importance of balanced, healthy meals in patient recovery.

Following the launch in the hospital’s restaurant, members of the committee including Mohammed Asghar AM, Neil Hamilton AM, Nick Ramsay AM and Neil McEvoy AM visited wards where lunch was being served.