Enter & View Report: Kingston Hospital Adult In-Patient Nutrition

This report details the findings of an enter and view visit carried out by Healthwatch Richmond at Kingston Hospital. The report focuses on the adult in-patient nutrition provided by the hospital, following up on a visit in 2019 where observation and recommendations on food provision were  reported. This enter and view visit, carried out in May 2024, aimed to understand the impact of the measures taken by Kingston Hospital in response to the previous recommendations.

The views of 70 patients were collected by the team, asking questions about quality, potion size, variety and temperature of the food, as well as more general commentary.

The report makes 9 recommendations to improve the hospitals food, with the key points being patients need better communication about portion sizes, cultural and clinical dietary needs, access to printed menus, and handwashing assistance before meals. Staff should ensure all patients are informed of menu options, dietary alternatives, and that second servings are offered.

Improvements are recommended for infection control compliance, increased fruit variety, and food ordering systems on specific wards. 

Kingston Hospital plans to implement an action plan addressing these concerns.