HEALTH Minister Edwina Hart visited Nevill Hall Hospital last week to see how new standards on nutrition are being implemented to improve patient care.

The standards have been developed by the Welsh Assembly Government following an expert report on enhancing the role of hospital ward sisters and improving the patient's experience in hospitals. The group said nutrition should be elevated to the same importance as medication due to its role in patient recovery.

New resources, the All Wales Food Record chart and a revised Intake and Output fluid balance chart, are being introduced to provide clear standards and guidance on nutrition in hospitals. This supports the work of nutritional risk screening, which involves monitoring food and fluid intake and output, protecting mealtimes to maximise the opportunity for nutritional intake and addressing the risk of malnutrition in vulnerable patients.

During the visit, the Minister saw the new electronic audit tool for recording and monitoring standards of care on wards. The tool provides ward sisters and charge nurses with information to enable them to manage their wards.

Mrs Hart said, "This is a key development in the on-going programme to improve the experience of patients in hospitals, meeting a One Wales commitment to improve hospital food and patient nutrition.

"It is important that patients have time and support to ensure that are able to eat their food.

"Staff have welcomed the development of these tools which, I believe, will help them improve care for their patients."

Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust Director of Nursing, Denise Llewellyn said, "It was a really productive visit and we really appreciated the fact that the Minister and Chief Nurse for Wales took time out to find out

exactly how standards for good nutrition are being implemented in Nevill Hall Hospital. They also had an excellent discussion with our ward sisters who were able to show them first hand how the electronic audit

tool is helping them maintain the very highest standard of care on their wards."