Patients, visitors and staff are being invited to join Sherwood Forest Hospitals (SFH) to launch its SFH Food and Drink Strategy, where they will be able to sample healthy food that will be offered at the trust.

In a bid to ensure that patients, staff and visitors eat more healthily, the trust will launch the strategy on 21 February.

The strategy outlines the trust’s commitment to providing a balanced, nutritionally sound and healthy food and drink offering 24 hours a day. This includes, providing a wide menu choice that supports patients in choosing healthy options, whilst creating a ward environment that supports eating well at mealtimes.

As part of the strategy and national NHS England guidance, the trust is also working with food retailers on the hospital sites to ensure that there are healthy options available. This includes asking them to retail smaller pack sizes of less healthy choices and focus on promoting the healthier choices. Vending machines will also provide nutritious food and drink 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To launch the strategy and help raise awareness of healthy eating, an information stand will be held on February 21 in the King’s Treatment Centre at King’s Mill Hospital, on 22 February in the main entrance of Newark Hospital and on 23 February in the main entrance of Mansfield Community Hospital, between 10am–1pm each day.

Staff, visitors and patients are all invited to attend, where they will be able to taste samples of food, gain information about healthy eating and answer a questionnaire which will then be entered into a prize draw.

Nutrition nurse specialist for the trust, Hazel Saddington said: “It is really important that we make sure that both our staff and our patients are well hydrated whilst they are with the trust.

“This strategy aims to ensure that everyone is aware of the healthy options available to them and commits us to providing healthy food and drink for our staff, patients and visitors.”