Inpatients at Altnagelvin Hospital are enjoying the benefits of improved mealtime arrangements as a result of the Derry hospital becoming the first in Northern Ireland to introduce an innovative electronic ordering system.
“Saffron,’” which has been introduced across all wards within the hospital, facilitates lunch and dinner time meal ordering and allows nursing, dietetic and catering staff to better monitor the nutritional intake of patients.
Nursing auxiliary staff use wireless “tablet” devices to collect meal orders daily from patients who have several meal options to choose from.
The tablet is also used to ensure special diets for patients who have specific dietary requirements, are stringently followed.
The main kitchen then receives the orders electronically and prepares and dispatches the meals to the wards, where they are served to the patients.
Michelle Martin, project leader, said it was decided to introduce the system throughout the hospital after it was piloted in four wards last September.
She added: “We were very impressed with the feedback. We fully implemented it in all wards during the start of this year.”
Anne Gormley, Head of Dietetics, said there were several benefits of “Saffron.
She added: “The most significant one is that we now have a much greater awareness of the nutritional intake of each individual patient, this is a very important aspect of our patient care.
“Adequate and correct food and fluids are as essential to good care in hospital as the medicines patients are prescribed and the treatment received.”
Ms Gormley concluded: “Simply put, meeting patient nutritional requirements will help them to return to health more quickly and prevent a whole range of complications which can delay recovery.”
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