The Protected Mealtimes Initiative

The ‘Protected Mealtimes Initiative’ was introduced with the primary aim of ensuring patients receive the time to eat their meals without disturbances and to allow staff to assist patients who had difficulties eating... [ view full abstract ]

The ‘Protected Mealtimes Initiative’ was introduced with the primary aim of ensuring patients receive the time to eat their meals without disturbances and to allow staff to assist patients who had difficulties eating independently (The National Patient Safety Agency, 2007). Protected mealtimes are periods on a hospital ward when all non-urgent clinical activity ceases (Murray, 2006). It was highlighted by Mulry and Mooney (2012) that the nutritional status of a patient is dependant on the environment during mealtimes not just the food consumed. If simple initiatives like ‘protected mealtimes’ were implemented the risk of malnutrition and its associated side effects would be reduced (Wright et al, 2006).
The rationale for implementing this initiative is based on the core principle that all patients have the right to receive the nutritional care they require during their duration in hospital. All staff has an obligation to ensure patients’ nutritional needs are fulfilled which contributes to the quality of life and the physical, social and psychological well-being of the person. It is also recognised that nurses have a fundamental part to play in creating an atmosphere which is conductive to the nutritional needs of their patients (Wilson and Lecko, 2005).
According to NICE (2006) nutritional status becomes impaired after admission to hospital due to illness or injury which can result in decreased appetite, swallowing and intestinal absorption. From an Irish context, several studies have highlighted the nutritional status of patients is adversely affected during hospitalisation (Department of Health and Children, 2009). The overall goal is fewer distractions occur at mealtimes for example fewer relatives, less ward rounds and domestic staff no longer clean during mealtimes. The principles underpinning a protected mealtime intervention encompasses focusing on the patient and their mealtime experience.