Protected Mealtimes are periods on a hospital ward when all non-urgent clinical activity stops. During these times patients are able to eat without being interrupted and staff can offer assistance.
Research shows that patients who are not interrupted and receive appropriate service and support during mealtimes are happier, more relaxed and eat more. The better nutrition a patient receives, the higher his or her chances are of recovering.
In order to effectively implement Protected Mealtimes Trusts should:
- conduct an observational audit of the meal delivery service;
- discuss the results with relevant teams;
- establish changes in practices required (times of ward rounds, visiting times, etc);
- obtain agreement from those involved and set a start date;
- provide information to patients, relatives, staff and other departments.
The Protected Mealtimes initiative has received full support from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
"Busy nurses working in complex environments often struggle to prioritise with so many competing demands. When a whole organisation embraces the importance of protected mealtimes, patients benefit."
Geraldine Cunningham, acting director of the RCN Institute.
Resources
Further guidance on implementing protected mealtimes is available via the links below.
The Partnership Sites Club second national conference, London 18th September, conference report