BASIC steps to ensure elderly patients do not become malnourished in hospital have been snubbed by almost half of all NHS trusts, a survey suggests.
Despite ample evidence that many vulnerable older patients need help during mealtimes, the issue is being ignored by health chiefs.
One in three said they had not even introduced a “red tray” system which means patients who cannot feed themselves are served on a red tray, alerting nurses to their needs.
A separate check with nurses found that around half said they were not given enough time to help patients during mealtimes.
I found that when my father was in hospital me or my mother would have to be there at meal times to feed him otherwise his dinner was left on a tray and then taken away without anyone attempting to feed him. Some days there were volunteers came in to help. Perhaps it would be an idea to have these young offenders go help in hospitals rather than wash grafitti off walls or sweeping bus shelters or whatever it is they do.
