BHF Flexi Menu Trials The flexi-menu structure proposed by the BHF team has been trialled in five hospitals this year with four of these choosing to use Datasym’s new MenuMate system for on-ward collection of patient meal orders. Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire carried out their trials in May. In September, St. Mary’s (Paddington), Central Middlesex and Queen Elizabeth Hospital at Woolwich offered the new menu structure on two wards in each hospital. The menus varied slightly between hospitals with up to119 dishes being offered every day for Lunch and Supper. Prepared meals were supplied to order by Geest. A specially-constructed prototype version of Datasym’s MenuMate software was installed on HP iPAQs and used to collect orders from the wards. Each ward had an iPAQ and staff were trained to enter patient details and meal orders. Since no suitable network facilities were available, the iPAQs were returned before each meal to the Catering Departments where orders were uploaded electronically to the Catering PC and reports were generated. Feedback after the trials suggested that: · MenuMate is easy to use and improves the overall patient experience · There was a noticeable reduction in wastage and in time spent on menu collation · There was a noticeable reduction in the use of paper · Orders were more accurate · Reports were accurate and useful. · Individual patient meal histories can provide valuable data for nutritional analysis Datasym greatly appreciated the invitation to participate in the trials. We have been at the forefront of hospital catering solutions for over 25 years and we will always welcome the opportunity to contribute to the national development process. More directly, the trials were a valuable experience for the company. Our general approach was certainly along the right lines but we did, of course, learn much and this will be incorporated in the commercial version of MenuMate on its release in February/March 2006 Please contact us now if you would like to take part in the beta testing trials currently scheduled for January 2006. More information MenuMate for on-ward meal orders info@datasym.co.uk