Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust takes nutrition very seriously. It’s paramount to recovery and is a top priority for all staff involved in patient care.

Our patients are at the heart of everything we do with food and nutrition, and as an organisation, we’re constantly striving to improve the nutritional care provided for our patients.

You may want to visit our Nutrition service page to see how we are planning for the future.

Meal times are as following:

Breakfast: 7.45am – 8.15am
Morning coffee/beverage: 10am (approximately)
Lunch: served between 12pm – 1pm (times differ slightly from ward to ward)
Afternoon tea/beverage: 2.30pm
Supper: 5pm – 6pm
Evening drink: 8pm

Please note, beverages are always offered after all meals in addition to ones listed.

Some people may require a special diet, for example, soft or puree food, gluten free diet due to their condition and these needs will be met.

Click here for menus in our acute hospitals. 

Protected Mealtimes

Our hospitals operate a Protected Mealtime Policy. This ensures that patients have an uninterrupted time when they can eat their food in peace and that nursing staff are on hand to help feeding if required. We would ask that visitors refrain from visiting at this time unless they’re there to help their loved ones eat. If you feel that yourrelative would benefit from help from a family member please arrange this with the nurse in charge. Often people feel more comfortable if they have a familiar face around to help them and we as a Trust welcome this.Each ward has a Protected Mealtimes poster on display that will also display the times of the meals.

Red Trays

If you find that you need help with eating or if you are experiencing a loss of weight and appetite, you may be given a red tray.

Red trays highlight to the nursing staff that patients need extra help and food intake recorded.

If you are visiting a friend or relative who you think may need a red tray, please talk to the nurse in charge.

Help with eating and drinking

All patients will be assisted with eating and drinking if required. If you have any special dietary requirements, please inform the nursing staff who will ensure that the catering department are made aware. It is very important that you receive enough water to drink whilst you are in hospital so do ask for fresh water if your jug is empty.

You will be provided with at least 7 beverages a day as well as fresh water. Meals are breakfast, main hot dinner and soup and sandwiches for supper.

What can visitors do to help?

The hospital catering service provides adequate meals for all of our patients, but extra drinks and snacks are always welcome especially for people whose illness means a prolonged stay. Favourite foods from home are always welcome.

However please check with nursing staff before you offer any food or drinks as they may not be suitable for your loved one. Also check to see if they are having tests or investigations that may require him or her to be nil by mouth.
Most wards have the capacity to store some cold items such as yoghurts or custards. However we would remind you that there is only limited capacity and therefore priority will be given to those patients who are on special diets. If you would like to bring such food in, please talk to the nurse in charge as it will have to be labelled with the patient’s name and the date before it is refrigerated

Please also remember that the welfare of our patients is our chief concern and we must guard against anything that is likely to put them at risk. You are responsible for the safety and hygiene of all the food you bring in. Please check ‘sell by’ and ‘best before’ dates carefully.

Drinking for recovery

Drinking whilst feeling unwell is always hard and many patients do not like plain water.  However a good fluid intake is vital to recovery and indeed prevents many problems such as constipation and urinary tract infection. We would especially encourage visitors to bring in soft drinks such as high juice squashes, fruit juice and blackcurrant drinks. Please do not bring in fizzy drinks as they do not have much nutritional value and indeed can be most unsuitable for many patients.
If you would like to bring in milkshakes or smoothies please ensure that they are drunk on the day and not left.

Nutritional screening

In accordance with National and Trust guidelines, you can be expected to be weighed on admission to hospital. If you have lost weight or your appetite has decreased or your clothes are too big, please tell the nurses. It may be necessary to screen you for malnutrition. If this does happen, a plan of care will be made to enable you to meet your nutritional requirements.

Link Nurses

Each ward has a trained Nurse with a special interest in nutrition. This person is there to ensure that all nutrition policies and procedures are adhered to. They attend meetings chaired by the Nutrition Nurse Specialist and these meetings are both educational and an opportunity to share good practice.

Housekeepers

The majority of wards have housekeepers. They are there to help with food choices and providing hot and cold beverages. If you have any particular preferences with your diet, the housekeepers will liaise with the catering department to try and ensure that these are met.

Finally

We at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust are keen to ensure that your nutrition and hydration needs are met during your stay in our hospitals.
If as a relative you are at all worried about what your loved one is eating or drinking, please feel free to question the nurses on the ward and they will be able to reassure you or take the appropriate action if there is a problem.