With the help of initial design concepts created by Media Studio, Debbie Stanton, a Speech and Language Therapist was granted funding from ACT* to create a new suite of picture menus. A food stylist and food photographer was used for consistency and initial design concepts included testing different picture styles: dark, grey or white backgrounds. The visual impairment team agreed on a grey picture background and large typeface to be used throughout. Feedback in the development stage was gained from focus groups and workshops and the menus were piloted with patients on the acute stroke rehabilitation wards.
CUH Dietitians also wanted a menu to identify food types in a very precise way for patients who aren’t able to eat all types of food safely or who have very adverse reactions when exposed to certain foods and this seemed the perfect opportunity to combine the two together. To meet all of the requirements the new picture menus provided detailed information for the ingredients of every menu choice:
• The meat type: chicken, beef, pork, turkey, lamb or fish;
• whether it is energy dense, soft, vegetarian or a healthy option;
• whether it is free from milk, soya, eggs, nuts, gluten or wheat;
• whether it is low in potassium or dietary fibre, has no added salt, is a finger food or a neutropenic option.
Each allergen is colour coded and given an easily-recognised icon.
There were two types of menus: a standard menu (green) and a menu for the Department of Medicine for the Elderly menu (yellow) each consisted of:
• A forty-four-page ward menu booklet
• an eight-page menu information booklet
• a set of fourteen-day individual daily menu cards – supplied to every patient daily for lunch and supper in picture format one side and allergy coding the other..
In addition, a missed meal menu card shows food options in picture format with an allergy coding information chart.
The result has been positive. Staff taking orders have reported that patients with communication difficulties are more empowered to make their own decisions. This has resulted in reduced stress among staff, patients and relatives.
*Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) – is a charity that is part of Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust. The charity helps make a difference for patients by raising extra funds to enhance services, facilities and research at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Hospitals.
