Eating Matters is a resource pack and practical guide to help hospital staff meet patients’ dietary needs while they are in hospital. The resource pack was commissioned by the Department of Health from the University of Newcastle and published late last year. In this article, the main features of the pack are presented and its practical implications reviewed

Modern clinical practice means that the provision of food and drink to patients in hospital is a complex process involving a wide range of staff. Whatever part other workers play, it is ultimately the responsibility of nurses to ensure that the nutritional needs of patients are met, Yvonne Moores, chief nursing officer for England, points out in her foreword. The resource pack, Eating Matters was put together in response to requests from nurses for help in improving standards of dietary care. Commissioned by the Department of Health, it offers practical solutions on how to audit and improve clinical practice in this area. The pack can be tailored to specific needs, aims to inform, educate and can be used as a reference work or a teaching aid.