Improved nutrition at Blyth
Deborah Blackburn is the Trust's modern matron for Blyth Community Hospital.
With over 30 years of nursing experience under her belt, part of Deborah's remit is to drive up the quality of nutrition available for patients.
Deborah said: "Over the past year, with the help of nutritional nurse specialists, we have introduced a number of initiatives to ensure patients enjoy their mealtimes. There are now fresh snacks in between meals which are given out with hot drinks and, during meal times, a red-tray system identifies patients with specific nutritional needs."
The hospital also now has nutrition champions who are the eyes and ears of the patients. They are a group of nurses and healthcare assistants from across the Trust, who are enthusiastic about raising the awareness of the importance of food in a patient's recovery. The champions are an important link between colleagues and patients on nutritional care.
As with all of the Trust's hospitals, protected mealtimes are in place where all other activity on the ward stops to allow patients time to enjoy their food without interruption. It also gives staff the time to help them if necessary. Relatives or friends wouldn't normally visit during protected mealtimes, however those who want to stay and assist the patient they are visiting can do so by discussing this with the nurse in charge.
Some patients who have difficulty swallowing may need to be given pureed food. To make this more appetising, food is put into special moulds to make it look more like the food it's been pureed from, for example sausage and vegetables.
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