Rochdale Infirmary has gone back to basics

Springfield ward at Rochdale Infirmary has gone back to basics to help improve the nutrition of their patients.

During a stay in hospital, patients may find that their nutritional intake is reduced because of an acute illness or they may have a long term problem due to medical or social issues.

However, if a reduction in food intake persists, even for a few days, a patient can become malnourished to a level which can be detrimental to their recovery.

The nutrition and dietetic department have devised a ward training programme called 'Mission Nutrition' which aims to teach ward staff how to detect and treat malnutrition at an early stage in all hospital patients.

As part of this strategy, core care plans for patients at risk of malnutrition were devised with the recommendations to offer build up shakes and soups to replace meals which patients had not eaten.

Karen McDermott, ward dietitian on Springfield ward, said: “Patients on the busy lower gastro-intestinal ward have been offered ‘Complan’ milkshakes and ‘Build Up’ soups during two of the ward drink rounds between 11am and 3pm.

“One sachet of each of these is equivalent to half a meal and so making them easily accessible to patients is a great achievement. As well as being available at set times, they are also offered to patients on free fluids or those struggling with their meals.

“In fact, they have proved so popular that ward manager Liz Harris says that some patients are now even asking for these drinks!”

“As the ward dietitian I am really proud of what the team on Springfield have achieved. It would have been so easy to say that they hadn’t got time to offer the extra service but they have really encouraged one another and thanks to the support of divisional nurse manager, Jean Page, the patients’ nutritional intake on the ward has really improved.”