Trust’s new food and drink strategy will provide a healthier experience for patients, visitors and staff

Ambitions to provide the highest standards of nutrition and hydration for patients, visitors and staff are set out in a new five-year food and drink strategy published by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust.

UHCW NHS Trust caters for the nutritional needs and food preferences of a wide range of patients of all ages, from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds and with a variety of clinical conditions.

The needs of most patients in hospitals are met by providing regular food and drink, but some require complex therapeutic treatments and nutritional support, developed by specialist dietetic, medical, nursing and allied health professionals.

In the strategy, which runs until 2030, we outline our aim to provide every patient and service user with a personalised experience by ensuring the food and drink that we provide is of the highest standard.

Tracey Brigstock, Chief Nursing Officer at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “Food and drink are vitally important to aid health and wellbeing and provide the nutrients needed to support recovery and promote physical and mental health.

“Food and drink also play an important therapeutic role in the healing process and should be viewed in the same way as medication and other therapies.

“Our ambition is for every patient, visitor and staff member to have a healthier experience and that the contribution of everyone involved in our food and drink services is recognised for the vital role they play.”

At the heart of the strategy is a commitment to continuously improve our offer based on user experience and feedback.

This includes providing protected mealtimes and equipping staff with the tools they need to help patients with eating and drinking and make mealtimes an enjoyable and supportive occasion.

We’ll continue to strengthen the accessibility and affordability of healthy, nourishing food for staff at work which meets their cultural and religious needs and enables them to deliver high-quality care.

Sustainability is also a priority for the Trust and as well as promoting healthier food we aim to source more food from local and regional producers and encourage patients and staff to eat more plant-based food.

Read more about our Food and Drink Strategy 2025-2030.