Written question asked by Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Darzi of Denham (Labour) on Thursday, 21 February 2008.

Health: Dietary Requirements

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:What provisions are made in NHS hospitals for patients who have particular dietary preferences as a result of their religion or lifestyle choices; and

Answer: The department's core standard C15b states: "““Where food is provided, healthcare organisations have systems in place to ensure that patients' individual nutritional, personal and clinical dietary requirements are met, including any necessary help with feeding and access to food 24 hours a day””." This includes making appropriate provision for religious or cultural dietary preferences. Information on the number of patients who are weighed on admission is not collected centrally.

Secondary information