Mealtimes to be improved at hospitals

“MINOR concerns” have been raised in a standards report about older patients’ dietary care at both Warwick Hospital and the University Hospital in Coventry.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Oct 2011, 13:00 BST

The Care Quality Commission visited the two sites as part of an inspection of 100 in the country to assess dignity and nutrition standards.

While inspectors found that both were meeting these essential standards, they have asked South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Warwick, to make improvements in support given to patients at mealtimes when there are shortages of staff.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust must make improvements in providing timely assistance to patients who required it to eat and drink. Both hospitals have 28 days to submit a report detailing what action has been taken.

The CQC’s findings, which were ordered by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, were published this week.