It’s Nutrition and Hydration week (13-17 March) which aims to highlight, promote and celebrate improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration locally, nationally and globally. At Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, we have a week of activity planned, focusing on our patients and their sustenance whilst in our care and beyond.

Members of our senior team will be visiting wards across both hospitals all week, assisting patients with their food and hydration needs during protected mealtimes, 12noon-1pm.

We will also launch our Food and Hydration Strategy, which outlines our ambitions to provide high quality and nutritious food to our patients, staff and visitors over the next three years.

We have a variety of other planned activity taking place throughout the week in our hospitals:

‘MEALTIME’ MONDAY – 13 MARCH

Our first nutrition stand will be in the atrium at Queen’s Hospital, supported by our patient environment manager, our local dietician and our nutrition support lead, between 12noon and 2pm. They will be giving advice and answering any question you may have around food, drink and diet.

‘AFTERNOON TEA’ TUESDAY – 14 MARCH

Thanks to our colleagues in Sodexo, Afternoon Tea will be served across all wards. Fruit kebabs will be going to the children on Tropical Lagoon and Clover wards, with scones and jam served to patients on all other wards.

There will also be a nutrition stand focusing on hydration at Queen’s Hospital, manned by our Acute Kidney Nurse, our nutrition support lead and support dietician.

‘COME DINE WITH ME’ WEDNESDAY – 15 MARCH

It’s time for King George Hospital to host the nutrition stand today, staffed by our nutrition support dietician

There will be a ‘Come Dine With Me’ activity between 12noon and 1pm at Queen’s Hospital. Both staff and patients will choose meals from the menu, sharing a table and enjoying lunch together.

‘TUCK IN’ THURSDAY – 16 MARCH

The nutrition stand, focusing on hydration will have its last outing at King George Hospital today.

Ward teams will have the opportunity to tuck into patient meals between 1pm-1.30pm, thanks to taster trollies.

‘BAKE OFF’ FRIDAY – 17 MARCH

Staff will be taking part in a Trust Bake Off at Queen’s Hospital today. Once judging has finished, the bake sale will start so pop along and purchase a tasty treat. All funds to go to the King George and Queen’s Hospital Charity.