Charity calls for changes to Health and Care Bill

Charity Vegetarian for Life has called for further amendments to be made to the Health and Care Bill.

The House of Lords is reviewing the bill, which would shake-up the NHS and includes changes as to how hospital food and drink is regulated. In particular, it would introduce requirements for the standards of food and drink in hospitals.

Lord Hunt has tabled an amendment to the bill, calling for mandatory training for catering staff in hospitals. Improved training would increase food quality and ensure that staff recognise and cater for those with dietary beliefs.

Vegetarian for Life (VfL), which supports vegans and vegetarians in care settings, says it supports the amendment, recognising the need for mandatory training. In many cases it found that staff in care settings were not aware of the differences between certain diets and were unable to cater appropriately for them.

But it says the amendments should go further. Beyond training on religious diets, all dietary requirements stemming from philosophical and ethical beliefs should be recognised, it says. The charity also wants to see mandatory training for all those that work in care catering, not just hospitals.

Amanda Woodvine, its chief executive, said: “The move to improve hospital caterer training is welcome and we fully support this. However, we believe that the scope of the amendment needs widening. Staff should be trained to recognise and provide nutritious food for all those following ethical diets.

“We would also like to see these standards broadened to include all care settings, not just hospitals. It is vital that all those catering in the care sector receive improved training to enable them to provide quality care to all.”

The National Association for Care Catering (NACC) and Hospital Caterers Association met with government minister Lord Kamall over changes to the bill, including mandated training for care staff.

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