All Wales Catering and Nutrition Standards for Food and Fluid Provision for Hospital Inpatients

The Welsh Assembly Government recognises the importance of catering and nutrition as an essential part of the care patients receive.  Under the Free to Lead Free to Care Initiative a number of national initiatives have been put in place to improve food and drink provision in hospitals.

Food served to hospital patients is an important factor influencing not only their clinical outcomes but also their satisfaction with the hospital stay. Good quality food and fluid provision are basic prerequisites for the effective management of patients’ nutritional needs.

The draft All Wales Catering and Nutrition Standards for Food and Fluid Provision for Hospital Inpatients build on initiatives such as the:

• introduction of an all Wales nutrition care pathway;
• food record chart;
• revised daily and weekly Intake and output charts; and
• Nutrition Awareness Campaign for staff being delivered by Royal College of Nursing Wales