Today (Monday 18 March) marks the start of the second annual Nutrition and Hydration Week which aims to reinforce and focus energy, activity and engagement on nutrition and hydration as an important part of patient safety.

Once again, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is getting heavily involved in this awareness week to promote the importance of good nutrition and hydration to staff, patients and visitors.

During Nutrition and Hydration Week, a number of events will be taking place across the Trust's Hospitals.

Activities taking place at York Hospital include, smoothie tasting, afternoon tea and cakes on the elderly wards, tasting of patient menus, catering department tours, softening food demonstrations, audits, executive walk a rounds and promotion of the dining companion volunteering roles.

At Scarborough Hospital the Dietetic Team will be promoting good nutrition and hydration for patients by taking an awareness stand and road show out and about around Scarborough, Whitby and Malton Hospitals.

Staff will be speaking to patients, visitors and staff promoting a range of topics including the importance of maintaining an adequate fluid intake, recipe adaptation, hospital snack menus and how visitors can help support their relatives' recovery both in and out of hospital. Information will also be available about becoming a dining companion volunteer.

Elizabeth McManus, Chief Nurse at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are delighted to be participating once again in Patient Safety First's Nutrition and Hydration Week to raise awareness of our work in this important area.

"When you are in hospital food and drink is vital medicine and mealtimes are often the main focus of your day.

"Ensuring good nutrition and hydration is a fundamental part of caring properly for our patients. Poor nutrition and hydration leads to poor health, increased and prolonged hospital admissions, and more cost to the NHS.

"We want to raise awareness of how important good nutrition and hydration is with this national campaign however it doesn't stop there - it is something we are committed to for 52 weeks of the year both in our hospitals and out in the community. We are always looking at ways to improve patient care."

18 March 2013