Breakfast is served from 08.00am on the ward by the ward host, hostess or nurse. This consists of cereal, toast or roll, jam and marmalade, and a hot or cold drink. There is also a Kosher breakfast available.

Lunch and supper meals are steam cooked using microwaves which are located in the ward kitchens. This means food is still piping hot when it is brought to the patient. The service includes ward hostesses who are fully trained in all aspects of food hygiene standards.

The standard menu for lunch and supper is made available at each patient's bedside and gives options for gluten-free, low sodium, vegetarian, high energy and softer foods.

Healthy options are available to patients. These are suitable for those patients with diabetes or requiring a lower fat diet.

We also have a separate menu for patients who require a modified texture e.g. if they have difficulty with swallowing.

Because of the special way we cook our meals, patients missing the standard meal times can still order a hot meal of their choice.

If you have any other dietary requirements, for example if you would like the Halal, Kosher or Asian vegetarian menu, please speak to the ward staff.

Our specialised diet kitchen continues to cater for patients with specific medical dietary requirements such as food allergies.

Menus are also available in a large print format and Braille and have been translated into Turkish, Farsi and Bengali – please ask ward staff.

We use a coloured tray system at Homerton Hospital to identify patients who need assistance, encouragement and extra time at meal times:

• red trays are used for patients who cannot feed themselves and need assistance with eating and drinking
• blue trays are used for patients who need encouragement and extra time with eating and drinking, therefore blue trays are served first.

Catering staff allow these patients additional time before clearing trays.

Please let the ward staff know your requirements upon your arrival. 

Other services

• snack boxes: these are available as an alternative to lunch or dinner
• light bites: this is a light, hot meal available to those admitted out of normal meal times.

Suggestions, compliments and complaints

Patient satisfaction surveys are carried out on a regular basis. If, however, you have a particular comment or suggestion, or if you would like to see someone from the catering department then please ask one of the ward staff, and they will make arrangements for a member of the catering team to visit you.

Alternatively, you can contact our PALS department at any time by either:

tel: 020 8510 7315 (answerphone outside office hours)

visit: Homerton Health Shop, situated in the main entrance of the hospital

write to: PALS, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Homerton Row, London E9 6SR

email: pals@homerton.nhs.uk