Equipping Acute Teams with Nutrition Expertise

Sodexo Health & Care has partnered with Culinary Medicine UK to transform patient care by equipping NHS staff with cutting-edge nutrition education and hands-on training. Through a dynamic blend of a dedicated online platform and immersive face-to-face sessions, we are empowering clinicians with essential knowledge and skills. Get in touch to join us in making a lasting impact.

Health Food
Published on Feb. 21, 2025

Empowering NHS healthcare professionals with nutrition education

This new partnership between Sodexo and Culinary Medicine is fully endorsed and encouraged by NHS England, and it aims to reduce the impact caused by malnutrition.

“By providing healthcare professionals with practical nutrition education, we can improve patient outcomes. This partnership promotes a holistic approach to healthcare by integrating culinary skills with medical knowledge, enabling professionals to provide sensitive, person-centred care tailored to individual patient needs. With one of the modules focusing on the nutrition and wellbeing of healthcare professionals themselves, this initiative also supports NHSE’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of those who care for others.”

Phil ShelleySenior Operational Manager and National Lead for Net Zero Food at NHS England

Good nutrition is an integral component of patient care. Eating correctly provides substantial physical benefit and psychological comfort throughout hospital admission. It has the power to prevent a significant number of chronic diseases, as well as the ability to lessen mortality, reduce morbidity and accelerate recovery¹.

As a leading provider of food services to the healthcare industry, Sodexo understands the critical role nutrition plays in patient recovery and is proud to elevate its offering to the NHS with this new partnership with Culinary Medicine UK, an organisation dedicated to advancing nutrition education among healthcare professionals.

"Our collaboration with Sodexo is a significant step towards integrating nutrition education into the professional development of healthcare workers. Together, we are fostering a holistic approach to healthcare that benefits both patients and providers."

Dr Sumi Baruah Chief Executive Officer of Culinary Medicine UK

Sodexo and Culinary Medicine UK partnership

Watch our video to find out more about this partnership from Sumi and Phil, and the powerful role nutrition can play in a patient’s recovery.

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Supporting healthcare professionals' commitment to holistic healthcare

This industry-leading initiative offers NHS staff evidence-based learning through five modules which have been developed blending nutrition, health, and culinary expertise, covering critical topics. The five modules are:

The role of nutrition in health: Exploring the impact of food on health maintenance and disease prevention.
Culinary skills: Equipping professionals with practical cooking techniques to provide culturally sensitive nutrition advice.
Nutrition for healthcare professionals: Focusing on the importance of self-nutrition and wellbeing for healthcare workers.
Undernutrition: Addressing the challenges and management of malnutrition in clinical settings.
Introduction to motivational interviewing: Enhancing communication skills to support patient behaviour change regarding dietary habits.

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The Vibrant Mind: A Guide to Neuroprotective Nutrition

Read the white paper guide to neuroprotective nutrition, produced by our US colleagues to explore the food as medicine approach and discover how good nutrition can help improve quality of life whilst promoting cognitive resilience globally.

Download The Vibrant Mind: A Guide to Neuroprotective Nutrition PDF

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Enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs

Malnutrition affects up to 50% of hospital inpatients² and costs NHS England over £19 billion annually³. By empowering healthcare professionals with comprehensive nutrition education and providing our patients with cost-effective meal solutions without compromising quality or taste, we aim to reduce the impact caused by malnutrition.

Malnourished patients stay in a hospital more than 3 days longer⁴ than those who are well-nourished. The improvements we introduce not only enhance patient outcomes but also contribute to significant cost savings for the NHS.

Our main provider apetito has been making meals for over 60 years. We offer patients two types of meal solutions and a wide range of special diet meals. The multi portion range has over 200 nutritionally balanced dishes available. The innovative individual plated meals solution, Carte Choix, includes over 30 pre-portioned main courses, 7 hot desserts and 7 types of soup.

These meals are expertly crafted by their in-house dietitians and cooked by talented chefs, then frozen within an hour to lock in the goodness, freshness and flavour. Through our partnership, we improve patient outcomes while addressing the significant strain malnutrition places on NHS resources.

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“Malnutrition affects up to 50% of hospital inpatients, leading to longer hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. Nutrition is a fundamental part of patient-centred care, supporting physical recovery, mental health, and long-term disease prevention.
Through our partnership with Culinary Medicine UK we are empowering healthcare professionals with comprehensive nutrition education which will enhance patient outcomes by equipping them with valuable tools to integrate nutrition into daily care routines as well as supporting their own wellbeing.”

Simon LilleyDirector of Marketing & Strategy, Sodexo Health & Care UK&I

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Elevating patient experience through nutritious dining solutions

65% of patients said that food impacted their overall experience of being in hospital⁵. Every meal is an opportunity to improve a patient's health and wellbeing. By offering personalised dining experiences, Sodexo supports faster recovery through:

A personal touch and timely feedback: Experiencia platform creates a more tailored approach to care. Valuable insight collected daily, helps us take action in the moment, contributing to a positive hospital experience.
Diverse menus: Our comprehensive menus are nutritionally complete, ensuring that all dietary needs are met with compassion and precision.
Flexible mealtimes: Our flexible dining solution can give patients control over what and when they eat. They can select meals at their own pace, making dining an experience that fits seamlessly into their recovery journey.
Retail and 24/7 solutions: Whether it's a high street favourite or a nutritious meal by our own brands, we cover a wide range of preferences, also offering 24/7 food solutions to ensure that everyone has access to the meals they need.
A patient concierge solution: Through our dedicated Concierge solution long stay patients can even request and receive food from their favourite outlets, within and from outside of the hospital.

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Ensuring patient safety through rigorous processes and compliance

Every patient deserves meals that are not only nourishing but also safe and compliant with the NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food & Drink and the British Dietetic Association Digest. This commitment is carried out with strict allergen management and safety protocols, so that every meal is prepared with the utmost care. From careful staff training to monitoring of food delivery, Sodexo prioritises patient safety at every stage.

Hydration and nutrition are essential aspects of patient recovery. Our teams can work closely with clinical teams to monitor these critical needs. This approach not only enhances patient care but also helps clinical staff focus on other important tasks, with 72% of healthcare professionals reporting that it frees up time for additional clinical duties⁶.

To maintain the highest standards of compliance and care, Sodexo invests in comprehensive training programs for all team members and the NHS healthcare professionals. Culinary Medicine’s evidence-based, interactive modules equip frontline staff with the tools needed to deliver safe and compliant nutritional support. This ongoing commitment to nutritional education ensures that patients receive the best possible care, with each meal carefully crafted to meet their unique needs, supported by a team that is always learning and improving.

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Realising the potential of food and drink in a patient’s recovery journey

Sodexo Health & Care has conducted extensive patient and clinical staff research to determine where access and experience could be enhanced during the patient journey. New ways of thinking were required to move away from the status quo, so we have implemented innovative solutions to enhance our offer for patients.

Discover Sodexo's innovations for a patient’s recovery journey

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Empower your staff with nutritional education today.

At Sodexo, we believe in the power of nutrition. We are supporting clinicians to integrate nutrition into their practice for better health outcomes. You can be a part of the change.

Get in touch about integrating nutrition into your practice

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¹Frost, Jessica C, and Alexander J Baldwin. “'Food for thought': The importance of nutrition to patient care and the role of the junior doctor.” Clinical medicine (London, England) vol. 21,3 (2021): e272-e274. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2020-0707
²Cass, Alyssa R, and Karen E Charlton. “Prevalence of hospital-acquired malnutrition and modifiable determinants of nutritional deterioration during inpatient admissions: A systematic review of the evidence.” Journal of human nutrition and dietetics: the official journal of the British Dietetic Association vol. 35,6 (2022): 1043-1058. doi:10.1111/jhn.13009
³Stratton RJ, Smith TS and Gabe SG. 2018. Managing malnutrition to improve lives and save money. https://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/reports/mag/managing-malnutrition.pdf
⁴Malnutrition in England factsheet (Last update July 2024), Malnutrition Task Force. Available at: https://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/malnutrition-england-factsheet
⁵NHS Hospital Food Survey, The Patients Association, published in February 2020.
⁶Sodexo clinical hydration and nutrition survey, 2022.
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Equipping Acute Teams with Nutrition Expertise

Empowering NHS healthcare professionals with nutrition education

Sodexo and Culinary Medicine UK partnership

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Supporting healthcare professionals' commitment to holistic healthcare

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The Vibrant Mind: A Guide to Neuroprotective Nutrition

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Enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs

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Elevating patient experience through nutritious dining solutions

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Ensuring patient safety through rigorous processes and compliance

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Realising the potential of food and drink in a patient’s recovery journey

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Empower your staff with nutritional education today.

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References

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Sodexo and Culinary Medicine UK partnership

Supporting healthcare professionals' commitment to holistic healthcare

The Vibrant Mind: A Guide to Neuroprotective Nutrition

Enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs

Elevating patient experience through nutritious dining solutions

Ensuring patient safety through rigorous processes and compliance

Realising the potential of food and drink in a patient’s recovery journey

Empower your staff with nutritional education today.

References