Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
1128. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the development and implementation of a HSE hospital food and nutrition policy in acute hospitals; if the policy is now finalised; and if so, the hospitals in each hospital group which are implementing it. [36615/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1129. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the development and implementation of a national clinical guideline for identification and management of under-nutrition in acute hospitals; if the guidelines are now finalised; and if so, the hospitals in each hospital group which are implementing it. [36616/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1128 and 1129 together.
Food provision in hospitals must meet the nutritional needs of all patients as well as meeting the health needs of staff and visitors.
Minister Harris has identified improvement in food provision in Irish hospitals in 2017 as a key priority. These improvements are shaped by my Departments Healthy Eating Guidelines, which were updated in 2016.
Patient nutrition and catering in Acute Hospitals are managed locally within the HSE. However as part of the HSE Healthy Ireland implementation, plans at hospital group level, with the support of the Acute Hospitals division, and the Health and Wellbeing division have identified two strategic actions to improve food and nutrition in hospitals. These are:
- the development of a Food and Nutrition Policy and Implementation Plan for hospitals. This will support all hospitals, through their nutrition and hydration steering committees, to provide leadership and promote and sustain improvement in relation to nutrition and hydration. This includes the nutritional analysis of menus, protected mealtimes, malnutrition screening, therapeutic diets and assistance with eating as well as the healthier food environment for staff and visitors.
Many hospitals are implementing some of these initiatives already and the HSE will provide a forum to share best practice between Acute Hospitals and drive improvements where needed in 2017 and 2018.
A project dietitian to lead on the development of a Food and Nutrition Policy in the HSE has recently been appointed and commenced work on this project. This builds on the HSE commitment to providing healthier food environments for staff and visitors by the implementing Calorie Posting on Menus in all hospitals and the ongoing implementation of the HSE Healthier vending policy.
- The second project involves working with the Department of Health through the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC). In October 2015, a guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Under-nutrition in the Acute Care Setting was prioritised by the NCEC to be developed as a national clinical guideline. This will ensure malnutrition screening and assessment is in place and appropriate early identification and referral on to services when required. Work on developing the guideline is underway by a multidisciplinary guideline development group. Five meetings have been held to date and the clinical and economic evidence are currently being assessed. The final guideline will contain recommendations on prevention and treatment of under-nutrition and be supported by a budget impact analysis and an implementation plan. The guideline will undergo quality assurance by the NCEC and it is planned to publish in 2018.
