Food for Life shapes National Standards for Food and Drink in Healthcare

Food for Life are proud to have been actively involved in the NHS Food Review, which helped to shape the aims of these new national standards.  As a charity working with schools, nurseries, hospitals and care homes to make good food the norm for all – this is a welcome change and testament to the work done by the team at NHS England in bringing these standards to fruition.

Rob Percival, Head of Food Policy at Soil Association said:

“Food for Life is pleased to have contributed to the development of the new ‘national standards for healthcare food and drink’, which launch today.

We have long called for a designated board director in each NHS Trust to be held responsible for food standards and lead the development of a food and drink strategy. These new national standards entrench that requirement, and should ensure that hospital meals are more nutritious and sustainably procured. We look forward to working with NHS Trusts and catering teams to support their implementation.”

What are the new food and drink standards?

All organisations subject to the NHS Standard Contract will now be required to deliver against the following standards:

1. Organisations must have a designated board Director responsible for food (nutrition and safety) and report on compliance with the Healthcare Food and Drink Standards at Board Level as a standing agenda item.
2. Organisations must have a Food and Drink Strategy.
3. Organisations must ensure that they have access to appropriate catering dietetic advice and support.
4. Organisations must have a nominated food safety specialist.
5. Organisations must invest in a high calibre workforce, improved staffing and recognise the complex knowledge and skills required by chefs and food service teams in the provision of safe food and drink services.
6. Organisations must be able to demonstrate that they have an established training matrix and a learning and development programme for all staff involved in healthcare food and drink services; and
7. Organisations must put steps into place to monitor their food waste, manage any waste produced and take action to reduce the food waste produce for plate waste, production waste and unserved food.
8. Organisations must have suitable food and drink solutions for all staff over a 24/7 service period.

The new national standards aim to ensure that ensure that patients, staff and visitors have good quality, healthy, nutritious food options, wherever they are in the country.

You can find the standards here.

Interested in transforming food for the better in your setting? Find out more about Food for Life Served Here.