Publications
Publications

A range of other relevant publications are available below. 

Hospital Caterer

Published six times a year, this colour A4 Magazine is the official journal of the Hospital Caterers Association and is distributed throughout the NHS to catering and hotel services managers at all levels. The Caterer is specifically designed to inform members of the developments taking place within the industry, new working practices, technical innovations as well as providing a practical guide to purchasing.

Contributions are welcome from members and non members - please contact Tamsyn Halm at tamsyn@h2opublishing.co.uk if you have any ideas for articles or would like to see any particular topics covered in the next journal.

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Publications
Guidance

Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Regulation 14: Meeting nutritional and hydration needs

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Standards

The Nutrition and Hydration Digest, 3rd Edition

The BDA Food Services Specialist Group are delighted to present the third edition of the Nutrition and Hydration Digest – updated for 2023. 

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Reports

Better Hospital Food Plan (2000)

To access the Better Hospital Food information you have to be a Full member of the HCA (Click here to see membership options)

The Better Hospital Food programme is no longer used in the NHS as it was replaced by each of the 4 nations own Food and Drink strategies however some elements are used still within some hospitals.

The Better Hospital Food programme was introduced to ensure the consistent delivery of high quality food and food services to patients.

It contained various information best practice guidance, resources and background information to support the delivery of food in NHS healthcare facilities.

Highlights

The National Dish Selector contains over 300 recipes developed by a team of leading chefs for use in healthcare facilities.

Sections on Better Hospital Food initiatives comprise:

  • Flexi Menu pilot, providing patients with a greater choice of meals;
  • Protected Mealtimes, guaranteeing patients un-disturbed meals;
  • 24-hour Catering, providing food any time of the day or night;
  • Sustainability, reducing environmental impact of food production;
  • Nutrition, a key issues for caterers and dieticians.

The Better Hospital Food section of the website contains:

  • National Recipe Data Base
  • Flexi Menu
  • Protected Meal Time
  • 24 hours’ service
  • Sustainability
  • Nutrition
  • Resources
  • Archive

NOTE – Some of the links and information within the Better Hospital Food area have been superseded, replaced or are no longer applicable, as such the HCA does not take any responsibility for the links or information contained in the Better Hospital Food area

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Investigation into an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections associated with hospital-provided pre-prepared sandwiches, UK May to July 2019

On 7 May 2019, local investigations were intensified in North West England after two patients contracted listeriosis in the same hospital and subsequently died.

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Guidance

Simply Puree IDDSI Challenge

A presentation by Simply Puree about the IDDSI challenge.

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Reducing the risk of vulnerable groups contracting Listeriosis

Guidance for healthcare and social care organisations.

 

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