Campaigns & issues

Older people who need help with eating should be identified on admission and a system put in place to signal the need for help.

For example, serving their food on red – or any different colour – trays allows all staff to easily recognise who needs help
at mealtimes, and doesn’t compromise the dignity of the patient.

In April 2006, Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust began to implement its ‘red tray initiative’ on all wards across the trust.

Patients needing help with eating are identified by having a red dot sticker placed on their menu sheets. The red dot indicates to the catering department that the meal should be served on a red tray.

When the meal trolley arrives on the ward, staff are able to identify the individual patients requiring assistance as the patients’ individual meal orders are served from the meal trolley on a red tray.

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