‘Too many’ incidents of patients choking on soft food

According to NHS Improvement, the organisation responsible for overseeing NHS trusts, two patients with swallowing difficulties have been reported to have died and seven more patients came to ‘significant harm’ after being given inappropriate food. Hundreds more choking or coughing occurrences also took place between 2015 and 2017 and experts are calling for an end to the term ‘soft diet’.

NHS Improvement’s executive medical director Dr Kathy McLean, said “Vulnerable patients have died or been harmed because there is confusion in the way people describe what type of food is suitable for those with swallowing or chewing difficulties.

“We are calling on everyone providing NHS-funded care to start using precise terminology to help avoid further harm.

“This will help save lives and make the NHS safer.”

NHS Improvement have now called on all NHS staff to use clearly labelled food textures to ensure patients are fed safely and according to their individual needs.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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