Janice Gillan, national chair of the HCA said: “We welcome this new initiative to help drive up hospital food standards.
“The new principles for patient food help to establish a level playing field by which all hospital food operators will now have to abide.
“It is also strong confirmation that hospital food is, once again, high on the Government’s agenda which sends a clear signal about the priority level for food and is a positive acknowledgement of food’s important role for patient wellbeing and recovery.”
Hunt announced yesterday that a set of eight basic principles covering the quality of food, nutritional content and choice for patients would be integral to new guidance for all NHS hospitals.
He added that new patient-led inspections would be carried out to ensure the principles were followed and that standards continue to improve.
Alongside the HCA the Government is working with a number of charities and professional bodies to introduce, implement and monitor the new standards including the Patients Association and the Royal College of Nursing.
With these groups the HCA has been working with the Department of Health on the development of the initiative and will be conducting a number of activities to support the campaign.
Under the new standards one of the fundamental food principles relates to the Government Buying Standards for Food being adopted as standard where practical.
As part of its commitment to the project, the HCA will be conducting a comprehensive assessment through a nationwide survey of hospital caterers in order to identify the challenges they face in adopting the Buying Standards.
A number of roadshows will also be held for hospital caterers across the country in order to provide them with guidance and practical assistance in order to overcome some of the barriers to applying them within their hospital sites or geographical regions.