CUH photo menus are ‘best practice’ for hospitals, says Age UK

The national campaign group Age UK has highlighted CUH’s work with photo menus for patients as an example of best practice in hospital nutrition.

 

Noting the Trust’s work as a good example of how hospital staff should listen to patients, their relatives, and their carers, they said that:

 

“Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, supported by Age UK Cambridgeshire, has developed pictorial menus to make it easier for people in later life to choose their meals. Hospital menu cards often use small print, making it difficult for people with communication or reading difficulties to choose their meal. By using a pictorial menu, people in later life can easily see what meals are on offer and communicate their choice.”

 

 

The photo menus were developed by nutrition assistant Karen Brogan, dietetic assistant Vicki Ebsworth, and dietitian Helen Davies.

 

“Helping patients to eat and drink well is a priority for staff,” says Helen. “We know that a good diet can greatly improve the rate of recovery – and new approaches like the photo menus can help.

 

"Many older people need help with eating – some come into hospital malnourished – so we screen all our patients on admission and identify those who may be at risk. We continue to assess them throughout their stay to make sure they’re getting what they need.”

 

The hospital operates protected mealtimes where necessary, and is reintroducing the ‘red tray’ and ‘red jug’ scheme for patients who need assistance with food or fluids. In addition, trained mealtime volunteers are available to help.

 

Age UK’s seven recommendations for hospital staff are:

1. Hospital staff must listen to us, our relatives and our carers.
2. All ward staff must become food-aware.
3. Hospital staff must follow their own professional codes and guidance from other bodies.
4. We must be assessed for the signs or risk of malnourishment on admission and at regular intervals during our hospital stay.
5. Hospitals should introduce ‘protected mealtimes’.
6. Hospitals should implement a ‘red tray system and ensure that it works in practice.
7. Hospitals should use trained volunteers where appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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