I have worked in many areas in the healthcare profession for overall around 10 years now.
Each place I have been to has such a huge food wastage.
At the end of each meal time, most of the food is thrown away and not used to give
1: Patients a choice of having seconds
2: Staff a meal when they are using food banks to get by and
3: to help the homeless? In some areas I have heard that staff are actually banned from using the left overs at all.
These are 3 ideas here I would love to see the food wastage go to: Some patients would love the option to have seconds (and to be honest, depending who is working, this happens at some trusts), this might make their stay slightly more enjoyable. Something they may go home and tell everyone about, how wonderful the staff were at taking care of them that they got offered seconds.
If staff were allowed to eat during their shift it might just give people the boost they need to stay focused and enjoy they job rather than feel under appreciated (some of the words I have heard staff say about this). Small little things like this can really boost peoples moods I think.
Lastly, the homeless. I have seen a huge rise lately in homeless people on the streets, I know there are food banks etc out there doing their best, but they need more. I feel like food could also be used in this way too? I'm not sure on the rules and regulations of taking food outside etc but it's just a small suggestion.
These are just ideas from what I have seen so far and I know that some trusts / areas may already do this. But for the ones who don't, this could be a great idea for you to start doing. Let's end food wastage along with appreciating the staff working within healthcare.