Mealtimes, food, and menus

The right food and drink is important for your health and recovery, that’s why we have a range of menus to suit your needs. We can also help if you have difficulties feeding yourself.

Each ward has a slightly different routine, with mealtimes between:

• breakfast: 8am to 9am
• lunch: 12pm to 1pm
• dinner or supper: 5pm to 6pm

A range of drinks and snacks are available throughout the day. If you miss a meal, let us know: we can arrange a late meal or a snack box.

Your friends or family are welcome to stay during protected mealtimes, but we like to stop what we’re doing to help you focus on food. Please save questions about your care until mealtime is over.

We have a range of menus to suit your tastes and needs, including:

• religious and cultural menus
• vegan menu
• allergy aware menu
• modified texture menu for people with swallowing problems such as dysphagia

We can also provide translated menus in other languages, braille, large print, or pictorial format.

Whichever menu you choose, our food is made to give you the right nutrition to help you recover. Just ask if you have any special requirements.

If you have any difficulty eating or drinking, we can help.

We can supply special forks, knives, or plates to help you feed yourself. Or a nurse, healthcare assistant, or one of our mealtime volunteers can help you eat.

Our mealtime volunteers are fully trained, and always supervised.

If you need help to tell us about your menu choices, ask for a menu preference form. You can ask a friend, relative, or carer to fill it in on your behalf.

If you’d like to bring in food or snacks, remember:

• check with the nurse in charge of your care that the food or drink is suitable for you
• foods and drinks that don’t need refrigerating (shelf-stable foods) are best because they can be kept by your bedside
• we can’t warm up or refrigerate food, so only buy fresh food if you’re going to eat it straightway.