Hospital provides diet for dementia

Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was told that its arrangement for feeding some patients were failing when staff from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited wards as part of a national study.

Senior medics issued an immediate apology at the time and added that work was already under way to address the “moderate concerns” raised by inspectors over the way meal times were conducted.

Yesterday, the hospital said it had introduced a new menu of “finger foods” for dementia sufferers, which nurses hope will make the process of feeding patients and monitoring their food intake easier.

Matron Karen Sharp said: “Patients can often experience difficulties eating or drinking due to a number of factors such as poor coordination making it difficult to use cutlery, becoming distracted in a or resistance to accept assistance with eating.

“The initiative will benefit patients in a number of ways helping to preserve their dignity, and ultimately it will be less stressful for them as the everyday foods are prepared in a way that makes them easy to pick up and eat with the hands.

“The food on the menu will meet all their nutritional requirements and will also help promote patients’ independence at meal times.”

Nursing, dietetic and catering staff from the hospital have worked together to develop the finger food menu initiative which will be introduced at the end of this month to patients suffering with dementia.

Catering manager Bernie Baxter said: “Other patient groups at the hospital will also be able to benefit such as patients struggling with dexterity, or post operative patients.”