24 January 2012
Nutrition & Hydration Week 23-29th January
Monday 23rd January 2012 marked the start of National Nutrition and Hydration Week. The week will reinforce and focus energy, activity and engagement on nutrition and hydration as part of patient safety improvements.
Poor nutrition and hydration leads to poor health, increased and prolonged hospital admissions, and increased costs to the NHS. The consequences of poor nutrition and hydration are well documented and include increased risk of infection, delayed wound healing, decreased muscle strength, depression and, sadly, premature death. Put simply, poor nutrition and hydration causes harm.
The awareness week supports the National Patient Safety First campaign and at East Surrey Hospital the nutrition focused activities include:
· An information stand in the West Entrance of East Surrey Hospital to showcase the Trust's existing procedures around patient nutrition and hydration.
· Staff, patients and visitors will be able to take away a large array of information from the stand.
· There will be staff at the stand at various points throughout the week to answer any questions staff, patients and visitors may have
· A series of food tasting events are taking place at the information stand.
· Various members of staff will be visiting wards to support protected meal times during the week.
Chief Executive Michael Wilson said, "Nutrition and hydration week is of the upmost importance to the trust. It is well known that poor nutrition and hydration of patients can lead to an increased risk of infections and delay healing, so put simply keeping them well nourished and hydrated will keep them safer. The trust is proud to promote this initiative in support of the National Patient Safety Agency."