If you would like to tell us anything about your meals, including your likes and dislike please speak to Nursing staff as soon as possible. The sooner we understand your needs then the sooner we can contact the catering team who will be happy to help.
We regularly ask for feedback about our meal service. From time to time we may ask you to complete a questionnaire. If you would prefer you can use the feedback form in the Information about Food and Health in Hospital leaflet which is available from Nursing staff.
If you require this information in an accessible format, such as large print or braille, or in a community language, please ask ward staff.
Nursing staff will check to see if you require help with eating and drinking. They will be happy to help you cut up food, open packets or may stay with you to help you eat and drink.
In some wards we have ward volunteers who can make your mealtime experience easier and more comfortable. They will make sure you have everything you need, from condiments to the right cutlery, and can even spend time socialising with you.
At NHSGGC we’re committed to providing high quality food and drink as part of your hospital visit. We constantly work to improve the range and quality of the food and drink that you will be provided with.
Mealtimes are an important part of the daily routine and this means, as far as possible, non-essential activity is stopped during this time.
At home, people often eat in the presence of a family member and that should be no different in hospital. Your visitor is welcome to stay with you at mealtimes.
Breakfast times are approximately: 7.30am – 8.30am
You will be offered a continental breakfast with tea or coffee, cereal, bread, toast (where available) and rolls.
Lunch times are approximately: 12.00pm – 1.00pm.
Your lunch consists of three courses:
Dinner is served from 5.00pm – 6.00pm approximately.
You will be offered a choice of hot meals with vegetables and potatoes or rice plus either a hot or cold dessert.
At each mealtime there will always be a meal option for vegetarians, a healthier option and choice for those who need more calories.
As well as your meals we have a range of drinks and snacks available at all times. This includes tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash, bread, cereal and biscuits.
We have a cafe style menu showing your choices for the full week. Menus are available either at your bedside or in dining rooms in some of our wards.
A range of alternative menus are also available, on request, for the following diets:
It is important that you try to eat and drink as normal if you can while you are in hospital. If you have special dietary requirements we are unaware of please speak to a member of ward staff.
The campaign focuses on the importance of food and drink in improving a patient’s recovery and how it can potentially lead to quicker discharge from hospital.
The information is aimed at staff, patients, visitors and family and highlights the role we can all play in patient recovery.
We work with a group of public partners to help guide improvements in our catering service. Our partners have all used our services either themselves or have had experience of our service through a friend or relative. Our 8 current partners have all visited the cook freeze production unit at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and now carry out regular audits of the meal service on our wards.
Each ward audit is unannounced with the public partner visiting a ward of their choice with the catering manager. Our partners use an observation tool to note down points about the meal service including food quality. They are able to recommend improvements if they see something which is not done to their standard. In addition, they ask patient opinions at every visit.
We have an annual timetable with our larger acute sites being audited by our public partners twice per year and our smaller sites at least once per year.
Here are some of the comments from our public partner audits:
After each audit there is a feedback session with the catering staff and the nurse in charge of the ward.
What we did: We have tried a lot of different ways of increasing fruit provision including fruit bowls in some wards.
What we did: We checked the regeneration oven on the ward and cooking instructions have been reviewed
What we did: We have debated several times whether to do this or not but decided it is safer to serve in packaging.
What we did: Ward service issues have been addressed with ward staff giving out the information leaflet regarding services available e.g. patients can ask for small or larger portions
We want you to enjoy the food we provide and we’d welcome your feedback at any time during or after your stay.
In most of our wards we ask you to order your meal in advance. Staff will ask you to pick a meal choice from the menu you’ll find at, or near, your bedside. You can also view the menus here:
The ward staff will let you know how to order your meals on your ward. All wards have the same food available.
We cater for patients with food allergies and can provide alternatives to bread and milk and snacks such as gluten free bread, soya milk and yogurts.
We also have a range of International Dysphagia Diet Initiative (IDDSI) compliant texture modified diets for patients with chewing or swallowing problems.
Please make sure you tell your nurse if you need a special/alternative diet.
On our main menu some of the meal options contain more energy (calories) and these choices are better if you have a small appetites or you need to gain weight. These choices are indicated by this symbol:
The “heart” symbol indicates healthier choices. These dishes have controlled amounts of fat and sugar and are suitable if you wish to eat healthily, have diabetes, are following a lower fat diet or are trying to lose weight:
We comply with Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 where we can provide you with information about the allergen content of our meals. If you need to know the allergen content of our meals please ask a member of the ward staff.
It is important that you drink enough whilst you are in hospital. Fluids play an important role in keeping you well and helping you recover. Try and drink plenty. We recommend about 8-10 cups a day. Nursing staff will encourage you to drink throughout the day.
A jug of fresh water will be provided at your bedside. The jugs are cleaned and refreshed twice a day. If you run out of fresh water at any time please ask for it to be topped up.
Hot drinks including tea, coffee, hot chocolate and malted milk are available throughout the day as part of the beverage service. We also offer a choice of drinks, including milk, with all your meals.
Some patients will be on fluid restriction and require fluid intake to be managed as part of their clinical care. Nursing staff will advise you if this is the case.
Sometimes when you are in hospital, you might be off your food and find it difficult to eat and drink. If you are struggling to eat please talk to your nurse. We will help by ordering you a smaller portion of your meal or by helping you to select one of our lighter options such as omelettes, soups, salads and sandwiches.
On our menu some of the meal options are high in calories and these choices can be useful to choose if your appetite is poor. These choices are indicated by a star symbol:
Our ward staff can help you choose.
There are snacks available on the ward too so please ask a member of ward staff if you would like something in between our meal service.
During your stay in hospital, nursing staff will carry out ‘nutritional screening’. This assessment will include finding out what you like to eat and drink, any dietary requirements as well as measuring your height and weight. This assessment sometimes referred to as malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) allows nursing staff to assess if you at risk of undernutrition.
Some patients may have swallowing problems associated with certain illnesses or types of surgery. These can be temporary or longer term. If you have any difficulties the Speech and Language Therapist can assess you and recommend the most suitable types of food stuffs to help with your problem. These are called texture modified diets and special menus are available.
For patients who are receiving palliative care or end of life care, staff will regularly review their eating and drinking needs (this is sometimes called nutrition and hydration). Staff will explain and discuss the benefits and side effects of eating and drinking, with the patient, their relatives, carer or friend.
Tom Johnston Catering Manager: 0141 211 3124
Call: 0141 314 4254
Call: 0141 314 4266
Tom Johnston Catering Manager: 0141 211 3124
Catering Supervisors: 01475 50 4192
Call: 01475 50 4192
Call: 01475 50 4192
Call: 01475 50 4192
Call: 0141 355 1690 or 0141 355 1691
Call: 0141 531 3220 or 0141 531 3221
Call: 01389 817 229
Call: 0141 347 8712 or 0141 347 8711
We understand that many patients will want food and drinks in addition to the meals provided. It is important that visitors check with the Nursing staff if they can bring food into hospital for you.
If food is brought in, it is important that it is both suitable and safe. For food hygiene reasons we ask that your visitors follow the guidance below:
Note: Some wards may have other items that are unsuitable due to the patient’s medical condition, e.g. swallowing difficulties. Therefore please check with staff about what is allowed.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde does not accept any responsibility for any food that is prepared and purchased outside our facilities.
Further information is available in our Food and Health in Hospitals booklet.
We have 2 large Cook Freeze Production Units (CFPU’s) where we prepare, cook and freeze the majority of your meals. Our own NHS catering staff work in these CFPU’s. The units are based at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Our chefs use fresh ingredients when preparing and cooking your meals.
Once cooked, the meals are blast frozen using specialised freezing equipment. This ensures they are frozen without destroying the nutritional content.
The frozen meals are then heated and plated in small kitchens beside the wards so you get a hot, well presented and tasty meal.
We cater for a wide range of ages. This includes children to the very oldest of our population, and for people who require special diets.
It is important that we meet the nutritional needs of everyone in our hospitals and all our meals are nutritionally analysed by a dietitian.
The NHS Scotland Food in Hospitals National Catering and Nutrition Specification sets out in detail what we need to provide for our patients. The specification gives guidance on how many calories, how much protein, fat and carbohydrate and the essential vitamins and minerals required. NHSGGC complies with this specification.
Our chef’s follow tried and tested recipes. This ensures our dishes are prepared and produced exactly the same way each and every time.
We purchase our food and drinks as part of the NHS Scotland National Procurement Framework of approved catering suppliers. Each supplier must meet strict standards including nutritional guidelines and food safety. Every item purchased is fully traceable and protects our patients, staff and visitors.
Where possible we ask for local food producers and suppliers to be approved by National Procurement. Our fresh fish supplier is a Glasgow based company.
We test our recipes at tasting roadshows held around our hospitals sites. This gives members of the public, patients and staff a chance to try out our food. We have had excellent feedback from our roadshows.