| answer text |
<p>For the National Health Service, social care and other health services, the Care
Quality Commission regulates providers on compliance with Regulation 14 of the Health
and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This states that
health and social care providers must consider people’s preferences, religious and
cultural backgrounds when providing food and drink, and that people must have their
nutritional needs assessed as quickly as possible and food be provided to meet the
needs identified.</p><p>NHS England published updated NHS Food Standards in November
2022. The standards set out that menus should be tailored to meet patient’s dietary
requirements and personal preferences. To that end, all hospital sites are expected
to prepare and provide menus that meet all necessary types of dietary, religious and
cultural needs. Vegetarian and vegan meals and snacks have long been part of this
choice, and particularly with the focus on providing lower carbon choices, plant based
meals are being provided as an extensive range.</p>
|
|
