Yes, we do. We have a Facilities Specialist Senior Dietitian and work closely with the nutrition and dietetic teams to ensure that our Menus are planned to meet the needs of our patients. We obtain and assess the nutritional information for all products before they are added to our menus. The majority of our patients will be able to choose from the main Core Menu, which includes guidance (Dietary Coding) to help patients choose from the menus outlined below.
In addition there are a range of Additional Menus to accommodate patients personal, religious or cultural preferences and for some clinical conditions:
- Multi Cultural Menu
- African Caribbean Menu
- Kosher Menu
- Finger Foods Menu
- Children’s Alternative Menu
- Renal / Low Potassium Menu
- Gluten Free Menu
- Texture 3 Menu (Liquidised)
- Texture 4 Menu (Pureed)
- Texture 5 Menu (Minced & Moist)
- Texture 6 Menu (Soft & Bite Size)
We also have a Higher Energy Snack Menu for patients who have been identified as having a high MUST score and are at greater nutritional risk.
Items to meet very specialised needs can be ordered by the Dietitian or Nursing staff on a Special Diet Request Form (D1).
We have a Core Menu for Adults and Children, which includes a weekly ‘Bistro style’ Lunchtime Menu and a two week Evening Meal Menu. These Menus incorporate some theme meals, such as Fish & Chip Friday, Saturday evening Curry or Oriental Take-away theme, Sunday Roast dinner. All patients should be offered the choice from the Core Menu (unless unsuitable for their clinical condition). In addition, the Additional Menus are available as ‘a la carte’ Menus and so do not change day-to-day. However a good choice is available on each Menu.
A 24 hour Menu is available for children or adults who have missed a meal. This consists of a selection of items, such as sandwich, Yoghurt, Fresh Fruit. Also toast, cereals, biscuits and beverages are available at each ward for 24 hour service.
All patients have a choice from the Core Menus and if appropriate then they can choose from the Additional Menus. Choices available at each meal are as follows:
Breakfast consists of a choice of cereals, bread, toast and preserves and beverages and is offered at the point of service.
Lunchtime is a 3 course ‘Bistro style’ menu consisting of:
- Starter a choice of soup of the day or a fruit juice with bread roll and butter.
- Main course offers either a choice of Hot options, a complete Salad meal, a Sandwich or Jacket Potato with a choice of fillings and up to 2 side dishes.
- Dessert is a choice from 4 items which includes locally produced Ice cream, fresh fruit or fruit in juice, cake, cheese and biscuits or yoghurt.
Evening meal: a 2 course traditional style meal consisting of:
- Main course offers a number of hot and cold options with a range of side dishes to accompany the meal.
- Dessert offers a range of hot puddings, a hot milk pudding and a selection of fruit, yoghurts and scones.
Lunch and Evening meals are served at 12.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs, as these times best fit the ward routine and protected meal times. However our current system does provide flexibility to have staggered meal times, and the main evening meal served at 5pm on children’s wards.
It is acceptable for food to be brought onto the ward, providing it is only of the low-risk variety as documented in the Ward Food Safety Guidelines and Food Safety Advice Note. Hot ‘take-away’ food is classed as a high-risk food, and should be strongly discouraged.