Richardson Eating Disorder Service – Catering Guidelines

These guidelines are designed to give you information on what is encouraged during your stay on ward 31A, in order for you to meet your individual nutritional requirements and be able to manage eating in a more normal way.

We acknowledge the anxiety you may have about what is expected and we accept that
you will not be able to eat normally straight away. You will therefore be encouraged to try and work on your eating by setting realistic goals each week.

You or your family should not bring any food or drink onto the ward. You will have the
opportunity to discuss these guidelines with the Dietitian.

You will be given the weeks menus on a Tuesday for you to complete in time for your
meeting with the Dietitian later that day, or the next day in order to discuss your choices and update your food and fluid plan.

You will develop an individualised meal plan alongside your dietician, this will be reviewed regularly as part of your care and treatment. This will promote a regular eating pattern to aid your recovery.

All meals, snacks and supper will be supervised.

Protected meal times are approximately as follows:
Breakfast: 8am – 9am
Mid-morning snack: 10.30am
Lunch: 12.30pm – 1pm
Mid-afternoon snack: 2.30pm
Evening meal: 5pm
Supper: 9pm

You will be provided with support during post meal times.

You will work with staff to identify an ideal eating environment and consider strategies to manage your distress.

If appropriate, staff can help set goals around social eating so you can learn to transfer skills to other environments and manage meal plan off the ward.

No diet, reduced fat or slimming foods should be brought onto the ward. This
includes sweeteners, sugar free chewing gum, some cereal bars and diet drinks, for example Diet Coke.

This prevents you from becoming dependent on diet foods and allows you to understand that these foods are not required when eating for better health.

Any special, cultural or religious food requirements need to be discussed with the Dietitian in order to ensure they are adequately provided for.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website
• telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]. Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention. You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Richardson Eating Disorder Service
Richardson Unit
Leazes Wing
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Richardson Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP

Telephone: 0191 282 5259
E-mail: [email protected]

Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre on 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2025 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/524/0125 January 2025 V7

www.cntw.nhs.uk

Review date 2028