Industry gears up for Nutrition & Hydration Week

Nutrition & Hydration Week 2014 (17th-23rd March) is just one month away and anticipation is mounting as the nationwide campaign goes global. The essential week of action to raise awareness and improve understanding of the vital importance of good nutrition and hydration across social and health care settings now reaches far beyond our shores.  Activity has been confirmed and registered as far afield as India and Canada.

The three leading organisations of Nutrition & Hydration Week 2014 – Patient Safety First (PSF), Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) and National Association of Care Catering (NACC) – put out the challenge to everyone involved in nutritional care in health and social care settings to use the week as a platform to demonstrate and share nutrition and hydration best practice, and illustrate how by making changes to eating and drinking habits people can improve their quality of life.

Service providers across the country, and beyond, have taken up the challenge with a host of activities planned.  In particular, the call to take part in Nutrition & Hydration Week’s Worldwide Afternoon Tea on Wednesday 19th March, urging social and health care providers to serve afternoon teas to service users and present a united effort and commitment to improving nutrition and hydration, has been responded to.

A very small flavour of activities taking place within the care sector includes tea dances hosted by Leicestershire County Council; a wartime-themed afternoon tea party at Nightingale Care Home in Ecclesfield: a tea dance at Rimbley Care Home in Calgary, Canada; and afternoon tea is being served in care homes across the country, and also at the Association of Health, Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, India.

Hospitals have also stepped up to the mark with activities such as food tasting in the entrance to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, plus a tea and scone day with patients, matrons and ward managers; the launch of a new hydration project at County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust; and afternoon tea being enjoyed on the wards and in designated areas in many hospitals across the country.

Neel Radia, Chair, NACC, commented:  “Nutrition & Hydration Week is shaping up to be an incredible week that will focus attention and efforts on the importance of good nutrition and hydration – a message that is relevant across the globe. By coming together in the spirit of education and sharing best practice and ideas we can create a long-term legacy that will ensure those entrusted to our care always receive the correct nutrition and hydration.”