This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Hospital nutrition care standards
10/08/2006
National standards to meet the nutritional care needs of patients are making a difference but need to be implemented more effectively, Health Minister Andy Kerr said today.
Mr Kerr was commenting on an NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) report about the performance by NHS Boards against standards for food, fluid and nutritional care in hospitals. The report focuses on the three strategic standards which need to be in place before the operational standards can be delivered.
He said: "The report shows that there has been a culture change within the NHS since these national standards were first published three years ago. These were groundbreaking and the first of their kind in the UK.
"Patients in some areas are already having their nutritional state assessed and monitored as part of their overall clinical care, with menus tailored to their needs. And in the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, protected mealtimes have been introduced to allow patients the time and space to eat without the distraction of visitors.
"However, implementation of the standards has been slow. There is still a lack of co-ordination and big challenges exist around staff education and training.
"I want today's report to be the spur for improvement and I fully support the recommendation that each Board should draw up an action plan to improve performance."
Today's report reviews the performance of all area NHS Boards (14), as well as the State Hospital and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, against three of the six national standards - Policy and Strategy; Assessment, Screening and Care Planning; and Education and Training for Staff. The other three standards - Planning and delivery of food and fluid; providing food and fluid to patients; and Patient information and communication - are to be assessed separately by QIS.
The Clinical Standards for Food, Fluid and Nutritional Care in Hospitals were published by NHS QIS in September 2003.