The new National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink have been launched by NHS England. Building on previous hospital food standards and considering the recommendations of the Independent Review of NHS Hospital Food, the new standards will apply to all organisations subject to the NHS Standard Contract.
The new standards are accompanied by a Maturity Matrix that provides guidance, tools and support materials to help organisations to progress across four key components, comprising policy & management, procurement & commercial, measurement & results, and people & communications.
There are eight key standards that NHS organisations are required to meet:
• 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
• Organisations must have a Food and Drink Strategy
• Organisations must ensure that they have access to appropriate catering dietetic advice and support
• Organisations must have a nominated food safety specialist
• 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
• 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
• Organisations must put steps into place to monitor their food waste, manage any waste produced and take action to reduce the food waste produced in all areas; plate waste, production waste and unserved food
• Organisations must have suitable food and drink solutions for all staff over a 24/7 service period.
The new National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink form part of the legally-binding standards in the NHS Standard Contract, and are already part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The Food Standards and Strategy Group will monitor the implementation and impact of the standards, and be on hand to support organisations so they meet, and exceed them. NHS England will monitor progress through the ERIC and PAM data collections. Organisations will be expected to report annually on their level of compliance for each section of the standards, and provide evidence.
Many Trusts are already compliant with parts – if not all – of the requirements of the new standards, as a result of work implemented over the last couple of years. It is the aim that all Trusts will be fully compliant over the next six months.
