Citation
Blades, M. (2004), "The healing environment masterclass", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 34 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2004.01734dac.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
The healing environment masterclass
The healing environment masterclass
20-22 January 2004, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London
This day was organized by NHS estates to further improve the nutrition of patients in hospitals as part of the Better Hospital Food Initiative.
The Masterclass considered the following issues:
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“Food as treatment”. What are the crucial aspects that need to be satisfied so that food fully contributes to the patient experience and healing process?
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“The eating environment”. What are the key environmental drivers that affect what we eat, how much we eat and the extent to which we enjoy the food – and how can hospitals make use of this knowledge?
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“Research and food service”. How can menu design, service, service setting and waste management be better managed using the available evidence?
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“Understanding your ‘customer’”. How might attitudes and perceptions be elicited to properly understand the needs and expectations of “customers”?
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“Developing a more patient-centred food service system”. How do we instil a truly effective service paradigm and culture within the context of the NHS?
The day was attended mainly by catering managers in the NHS.
The presentations were given by Dr Meiselman, Research Scientist from the US Army and Dr Edwards from Bournemouth University. There was a vast amount of extremely useful information given on items such as how to term dishes using descriptive names and how to audit patients on their experience of hospital food. Therefore, the day was extremely useful to caterers and allowed them to take away a great deal of practical information.