I am a visitor: Protected Mealtimes

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Protected Mealtimes ensure patients will not be disturbed by a clinician. Family members are welcome during protected mealtimes should your relative require assistance or to encourage eating, please discuss this with the Senior Charge Nurse.

The following times are approximate, please check times on the ward patient information board:

• Breakfast 8am-9am
• Main Meal 12pm-1pm
• Evening Meal 5pm-6pm

Protected mealtimes are protected from clinical interventions. Unless you normally support or encourage a patient to eat, as agreed with the Senior Charge Nurse, the only people on the ward routinely at mealtimes should be nursing and domestic staff. However, should you require to visit out with our recommended visiting times, we aim to be flexible to meet the needs of the patient so they can still receive a visit, and if this is the case you should speak to the Senior Charge Nurse.

Supporting people in hospital to involve their family or carers as much as they would like is an important principle of person-centred visiting. This recognises the beneficial effect of a family member or carer participating in some elements of personal care and support, such as at mealtimes or with personal hygiene, etc. This is of particular importance if receiving care from people with whom the person is less familiar would cause distress.

We follow national guidance which encourages that in theses instances, the family or carer providing support should not be treated as a visitor to the ward. They should also be provided with the appropriate personal protective equipment and education to undertake these activities where necessary.