STAFF and volunteers at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) joined a World Tea Party on Wednesday and served up cream teas to patients on the wards.

The tea party was part of Nutrition and Hydration Week, a national initiative which aims to highlight the importance of providing patients with high energy foods and good nutritional care.

It also enabled RBH to showcase the important work its catering, dietetic and ward staff are doing around correct patient meal assignment, food allergy awareness, malnutrition, improvements to meals and the importance of knowing a patient’s body weight and fluid intake.

Patients on every ward at RBH enjoyed a cup of tea and coffee with the choice of a mini jam scone and éclair during one of their mealtimes.

Michael Muncer’s wife Valerie has been on Ward 5 at RBH for eight weeks. He said: “Having tea and cakes delivered to my wife and I has been a real treat. My wife has been in hospital for some time now and something like this helps raise her spirits, puts a smile on her face and enables her to enjoy a bit of normality.”

Zita Roberts is also a patient on Ward 5. She said: “It has been lovely to receive some fresh cakes to enjoy with a cup of tea. It is something a little different and has also given me the opportunity to chat to the nurses and ward staff.”

Ellen Bull, Deputy Director of Nursing, said the event was an ideal opportunity to engage with patients and their relatives about the food provided and to get feedback about RBH’s catering services.

“The cream teas also provided something different in a patient’s routine which is vital in boosting their morale,” she added.

Katie Bennett, sister on Ward 5, said: “We have been working hard on Ward 5 to ensure we all have free time to feed our patients and spend time with them. It gives us the chance to chat with them about any worries or concerns they have.”