This will meet a wish set by a young girl Sophie Fairall that forms part of Sophie’s Legacy. The Medirest team will work to ensure that parents and carers can access free food on the ward 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Food will include meals from the Steamplicity menus, across breakfast, lunch and dinner. The new provision will be funded by Medirest and follows a trial at Royal Surrey County Hospital.
Russell Blake, managing director of healthcare at Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “I am very proud to have worked with NHS England and the Sophie’s Legacy team, to ensure that parents and carers of children on extended clinical care plans are receiving good and nutritious food when their child is being treated in hospital. Our teams are privileged to be able to support in this way.”
Sophie's Legacy was created in memorial of Sophie Fairall and the legacy of change she wanted to create. Her time being treated for cancer led Sophie to want several things in healthcare changed and feeding the parents of children in hospitals was a priority.
She understood the importance of parents and carers not having to leave an unwell child if they need to get a meal and stressed the challenge of the cost associated with this issue (estimated at £15-18 a day for a parent).
Charlotte Fairall, Sophie’s mother as well as founder and chief executive of Sophie’s Legacy, commented: "I am thrilled that Medirest is leading the way as the first hospital caterer to provide meals for parents across all the hospitals they support.
“This initiative will make a meaningful difference to countless families who are navigating the challenges of caring for a child in the hospital. Seeing Sophie’s wish come to life in so many hospitals is a dream come true, and I am hopeful that this step inspires even more hospitals to follow suit and ensure that parents receive the nourishment they need during these difficult times."
Sophie’s Legacy has been supported by Phil Shelley, senior operational manager for NHS England, Ruth May former chief nursing officer for NHS England, and Kate Pye former deputy chief nursing officer for NHS England, along with staff in various hospitals across the country.
Shelley added: “Sophie’s bravery shone a light on the importance and availability of good food for parents and carers whilst their children are in hospital. This led to the pilot project between NHS England and Sophie’s Legacy to provide food for parents and carers. I am pleased to see Medirest build on this with care and authority.”
Sophie's Legacy commitments include:
- Play specialist seven days a week in hospitals
- Improvements to food for children in hospital
- For parents to be fed when staying with their child
- For GP's, nurses and health professionals to be trained in childhood cancer
- To increase the funds (currently 3%) in childhood cancer research