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Hospitals: Food

Asked by Josh BabarindeLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 10 July 2025UIN 64877

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve hospital food for patients in Eastbourne.

Answered by Karin Smyth

Access to nutritious, tasty, and aesthetically pleasing hospital food can improve patient morale and contribute to their recovery.

All National Health Service trusts, including in Eastbourne, are expected to follow the NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink. There are eight mandatory standards all trusts are required to meet. This includes having a food and drink strategy and demonstrating that they have suitable food service provision, which is appropriate for their demographic, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Further information on the NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-standards-for-healthcare-food-and-drink/

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