Hiqa to inspect whether patients are being properly fed

The Health Information and Quality Authority is to carry out unannounced inspections on public hospitals to ensure that patients are being properly fed.

The health watchdog has published a guide to its review of nutrition and hydration in public acute hospitals, as part of its approach to monitoring hospitals’ compliance with guidelines.

Hiqa said inspection teams will visit hospital wards during mealtimes to see first-hand if patients get good quality meals, a choice of food and that they are helped with eating when necessary.