Nutrition and Hydration campaign inspires care providers and clients

Organisers of Nutrition and Hydration Week 2014 have praised the care sector for its support, reporting on an ‘unprecedented success’ that saw care settings staging events all over the country.

Promoted by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC), Patient Safety First (PSF) and the Hospital Caterer’s Association (HCA), the Week began on 17 March and drew to a close Sunday 24, after having been marked by 3 million Twitter followers.

A Worldwide Afternoon Day, held on Wednesday 19 March, proved particularly popular, launched with the help of celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala who visited St Bart’s Hospital in Smithfield.

Inspired by the theme of the campaign, Todiwala commented: “If Pervin or I were to be laid up in hospital for whatever reason, the last thing we'd want is bland, unappetising and typical hospital food. It would be great to be fed good, wholesome, tasty, nutritious and healthy food cooked with care and attention. That is half the job done and arguably three quarters of the recovery process! This is simply what Nutrition & Hydration Week is trying to highlight and did so most successfully – I was proud to have played my small role in it.”

One of the many care homes to embrace the Week was The Laurels & Pine Lodge, in Poole, whose calendar included fruit tasting activities and a visit from local community support worker Sally Teixiera, who gave a talk on how the local Tesco Stores branch sources its food.

Home manager, Shona Sydenham said, “We really enjoyed taking part in Nutrition and Hydration week. Ensuring that our residents eat well and drink plenty is central to the provision of great care so it’s great to be able to take part in a national initiative to promote nutrition and hydration. As always, our activities team found some interesting ways to mark the week and our residents really enjoyed the various activities that took place.“

Chair of HCA, Andy Jones, commented on the success of the campaign, marked as far away as India, Canada and Australia, saying: “The level of support for the Week has been phenomenal. We have been overwhelmed by the way in which hospital and care caterers as well as all the support staff in health and social care settings have truly embraced the concept of Afternoon Tea and integrated it into the promotion of the Week’s aims.

“The strength of commitment to delivering good hydration and nutritional care demonstrated throughout the UK and the world last week should make us all proud. It should also reassure patients, care home residents and their relatives of the exceptional lengths and high standards to which our teams strive every single day.”