More help at meal times is on menu for patients
ELDERLY and vulnerable patients at the Royal Derby Hospital who struggle to eat will get support from specially-trained volunteers.
In the past ten months, staff at the hospital have been trying out a project where people give up their spare time to come on to the wards to meet patients and encourage them to have their meals.
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From left, Derby Hospitals trust assistant head of facilities Jackie Marriott and ISS staff Jatinder Dulku, Anna Kolodziej and Lucky Sembi. On the table is some of the range of food available to patients at the Royal Derby.
After receiving training, the 10 patient activity volunteer support workers were asked to clean down tray tables, take meals around wards and work with patients identified by staff as needing help.
This would be done by meeting with the patient, sitting with them before and after the meal and encouraging them to eat.
The hospital's trust has now decided to extend the project by recruiting more volunteers and setting up extra activities around mealtimes – such as card and domino games – to make them more enjoyable.
Twenty new support workers are to receive training next week and, depending how much time they can spare, it is hoped they can offer support to patients in 13 wards.
Jackie Marriott, assistant head of facilities management for Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said she was pleased with how successful the project had already been. She said: "The volunteers are really helpful to staff because they are providing an extra pair of hands on the ward and do a great job of encouraging people to eat.
"We offer a wide range of hot and cold meals and patients do enjoy them but, understandably, some who are feeling particularly unwell or have gone through treatment or surgery might not always have an appetite.
"But the volunteers try to take their mind off this and help in any way they can, while reporting any concerns to the staff.
"This is why we want to make more of what they do, using games, activities and music to make the experience much easier and enjoyable for people."
Among the hospital's volunteers is Maurice Hodson, 58, of School Lane, Heage, who signed up after losing his job.
He said: "I actually started volunteering in cardiac rehabilitation but really wanted to play a part in this project when it came up.
"You get to meet all sorts of different people dealing with lots of different conditions and it's a great feeling to help somebody when they perhaps need it the most."
In 2009, Derby's hospitals trust began its contract with ISS Facility Services, which provides the food at Royal Derby.
As part of Nutrition and Hydration Week – a national health campaign from last Monday until today – staff at the hospital ran a stand showing some of the meals available to patients.
These included breakfast, a range of hot meals for lunch and dinner, salad and sandwiches, a snack box available 24 hours a day and meals available for people whose conditions mean they are struggling to swallow.
Patients and visitors were invited to try the food and look at the menus.
Among those who visited the stand was Beverley Marshall, 45, of Cotmanhay Road, Ilkeston.
She said: "I came in to visit my baby granddaughter but it was interesting looking at the food available.
"Whenever I've stayed in hospital myself, I've always found the food really nice.
"It helps your recovery and they make sure you can enjoy it."
9 Comments
by dedlocks
Monday, January 30 2012, 4:28PM
“Helping to feed your patient should be top of the list for any nurse. This is a golden opportunity to monitor how much is being eaten and swallowed (not ruminated), the condition of the tongue,teeth and mucous membranes (picking up on signs of fungal infections, glossitis, vitamin deficiency, mouth ulcers and difficulty swallowing. It also gives time for the nurse /patient relationship to strengthen and develop, confidences are often exchanged which may have an important part to play in the care management of patients. This act seems so humble but in trained hands it is a valuable diagnostic and management tool. It isn't as "sexy" as the nurse with a stethoscope as the main fashion accessory. Not interesting enough for TV soaps and reality show either.”
by janine2011
Monday, January 30 2012, 3:04PM
“I admit to being cynical but is this scheme only in place because of the reports lately of the rise in the numbers of elderly people dying in hospital of malnutrition and dehydration? What were they doing prior to starting this? Putting the meal down and removing it some time later untouched because the patients weren't able to feed themselves and were not asked if they needed help? Either way if it ensures they get the help with their meals it has got to be a good thing.”
by haveacare
Monday, January 30 2012, 1:20PM
“The hostesses do a brilliant job and when I was in really kept me going but they also do not have time to sit with somebody and feed them and to be honest I would not expect it to be part of their jobs as they are not the carers. It is bad that their hours are being cut, as it is with everybody who is suffering in the present climate. Not sure the two are connected so would not judge on that. I just know that for the person being fed it could be the difference between life and death”
by Rehana_Q
Monday, January 30 2012, 12:34PM
“My gran was in the Royal for some weeks and the hostesses did a great job of making sure she and other elderly patients were fed. I hope this new scheme doesn't mean that the care goes backwards. Can someone from the hospital answer the point, are these volunteers instead of the current paid employees?”
by judyd2012
Sunday, January 29 2012, 7:23PM
“My partner mentioned something along these lines a few months ago, about dementia patients being left to feed themselves, and meals being taken away simply because they had not eaten them. Now the hospital chiefs have almost made the admission that some patients do need help with their meals. A good idea to have these volunteers, but what on earth are the nursing staff doing at mealtimes? Surely not everyone on a ward need help at mealtimes?”
by scratchyitup
Sunday, January 29 2012, 11:08AM
“If that's true, which I don't doubt for a minute it isn't, then it doesn't surprise me at all.
We have a multi million pound hospital with multi decade PFI contracts signed for by Labour which are now being fuelled with free labour under the Tories 'Big Society' initiative.
I don't think they'll stop until we're all being spit-roasted.”
by BrianDerby
Saturday, January 28 2012, 10:01PM
“Unfortunatly this scheme might seem a great idea to some people but in fact it is Bad news to those poor hostesses working at hospital.
My girlfriend works at the hospital and they already informed them of reducing their hours even making some of them redundant
It is a shame that they failed to mention ther truth in this article and make everyone know that is a cost cutting scheme by the hospoital that will harm many livels in this hard economic climate
IS THAT FAIR? !!!!!!!!!!!”
by vintage1959
Saturday, January 28 2012, 7:49PM
“I know someone who volunteers to do this, it's a great idea and should have been thought of years ago!”
by haveacare
Saturday, January 28 2012, 11:13AM
“I was in hospital for 3 months and this was a big worry of mine as I was in with a number of elderly and vulnerable people. They were not helped with meals and quite often the meal would be put in front of them, they obviously wanted it, there was nobody to help and then the meal was taken away as they are not allowed to stand for more than a certain amount of time. I did what I could but it was not enough.
I am over the moon about this project and applaud the people who are running it. Sadly I cannot volunteer, but wish I was an a position to as it will make a huge difference to so many people. Well done”