Staff asked to be 'meal mates'
A volunteer team is being recruited from among staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at King's Lynn to help less able patients on wards at mealtimes.
Their role will be to give time to patients who are unable to help themselves to take food and drink, particularly elderly patients, including those with dementia.
Staff are being asked to become meal mates and to give up 30 minutes of their time to assist ward staff at breakfast, lunch or supper time.
The move follows an approach made by some of the Trust's office staff who wanted to find ways of helping patients at times when ward staff are particularly busy.
The QEH already has a team of volunteer Dignity Champions, headed by medical director Dr Geoff Hunnam and director of nursing Gwyneth Wilson, as part of a national initiative to ensure that vulnerable patients – particularly older people and those with dementia – are treated at all times with appropriate dignity and respect.
Staff who volunteer for the scheme are to receive full training from experienced nurses.
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