Hospital gets onboard Nutrition and Hydration Week to support The Rainbow Charity

Next week marks the start of the third annual Nutrition and Hydration Weekwhich 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.

At Scarborough Hospital there will be a nutrition stand located in the main reception throughout the week, providing a host of information relating to nutrition and hydration.  The Dietetic team will also serve patients and visitors afternoon tea as well as collecting donations for local food banks.

Claire Hudson, Dietetic Assistant, explained: “The nutrition stand will highlight good hydration practices and food fortification advice.  There will be an interactive element and quiz so visitors can take part whilst talking to members of the dietetic department.

“On Wednesday (19 March), we will serve a traditional afternoon tea to patients and visitors on Ann Wright Ward to highlight the importance of good nutrition and hydration.”

Claire continued: “Good nutrition and hydration needs to continue when patients leave hospital which is why we felt that this week would be an excellent opportunity to support our local community and those people who may not be able to access good, healthy food on a regular basis.” 

Scarborough-based, The Rainbow Charity, distributes food hampers to the homeless, families in financial difficulty or older people who are struggling to cope.

During Nutrition and Hydration Week there will be three donation points located around the hospital for staff and visitors to make non-perishable donations of food. 

The food bank donation points will be located in Pat’s Place, main entrance  and the West Wing Reception and the boxes will have a list of items that can be donated.

Claire said: “If every member of staff or visitor brought in just one item, imagine the size of the donation we could make, and the difference it may make to local people.”

11 March 2014