The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published three reports on nutrition and hydration care in public acute hospitals. HIQA monitors against the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare to review nutrition and hydration care of patients in Irish hospitals.

HIQA inspections monitor hospitals to ensure that they have effective systems in place to identify and manage patients who are at risk of malnutrition and dehydration. The reports published today relate to inspections in the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; Cavan General Hospital; and Monaghan Hospital.

An unannounced inspection of nutrition and hydration was carried out in the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, on 2 February 2017. The hospital had an established Nutrition Steering Committee that had implemented a number of quality improvement initiatives to support the nutrition and hydration care of patients.

The hospital was screening patients for their risk of malnutrition on admission; however, not all patients were being re-screened weekly in line with national guidelines. Inspectors found that all patients were offered a choice of meals and observed that patients who required assistance with their meals were offered assistance in a prompt manner. The hospital regularly conducted patient meal satisfaction surveys and used the findings to drive improvements in the meal service. Inspectors spoke with a number of patients during the inspection who spoke positively about the food available.

An unannounced inspection carried out in Monaghan Hospital on the 13 February 2017 found that the hospital were screening and re-screening patients for the risk of malnutrition. The hospital had a Nutrition Steering Committee in place that had implemented a number of quality improvement initiatives relating to nutrition and hydration care.

All patients who spoke with inspectors were positive about the quality of food they received and choice of meals offered. However, not all patients on texture-modified diets were always offered a choice of meal. Inspectors observed that patients who required assistance with meals were offered it in a prompt manner and there were systems in place to ensure patients received the correct meals.

Inspectors found that the hospital had audited compliance with screening patients for their risk of malnutrition and had conducted a patient satisfaction survey in 2015. A key area of focus following this inspection is for the hospital to complete the analysis of the nutrient content and portion size of all menus as per national guidelines. The hospital should continue to use patients’ views in relation to nutrition and hydration care to inform and direct change and to reinforce good practices where they exist.

An unannounced inspection of nutrition and hydration was carried out in Cavan General Hospital on 14 February 2017. The majority of patients who spoke with inspectors were satisfied with the quality of food and drinks they received while in hospital. All patients, including those on therapeutic and texture-modified diets, were offered a choice of meals. Inspectors were satisfied that there was a system in place to ensure that those patients who required assistance or encouragement with meals received it in a timely manner.

The hospital routinely screened and re-screened patients for their risk of malnutrition and inspectors found that the hospital regularly audited compliance with screening across the hospital. The hospital must continue with auditing of nutrient content and portion sizes of all patient menus and progress with the review and approval of policies relating to nutrition and hydration care.