Before the new system hospital staff had to fill in paperwork manually and take it to catering staff in advance. This resulted in meals being left uneaten and wasted if the patient's appetite had changed.
The new eMeals system allows staff on the ten wards to order patient meals on the same day and it highlights if patients have food allergies or if they need a specialist diet.The hospital is ‘committed’ to saving money and becoming more eco-friendly.
The eMeals app was created by the Trust's IT and catering teams.
Andy Wicks, chief information officer at University Hospitals of Morecombe Bay NHS foundation Trust (UHMBT), said: “This is a great example of how innovative technology is transforming the way staff work to ensure our hospitals offer the best patient care and experience.”
The eMeals system has been introduced at Furness General Hospital, Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital. Across all three sites 503,312 meals have been ordered to date.