The rollout of a Hot Thickened Fluids initiative at QEII Hospital is enhancing nutritional outcomes and consumer experience.
Launched as a pilot in 2024, the QEII Hospital-led Hot Thickened Fluid Project was rolled out in collaboration with QEII’s Food Services, Dietetics and Speech Pathology teams.
It’s the first hospital-wide implementation of the QEII project since the Eat, Walk, Engage program trialled the idea at former Ward 2AM in 2020.
The project was developed for patients with difficulty swallowing who often face challenges with reduced oral intake and limited fluid choices, leading to dehydration and poorer health outcomes.
To diversify the offerings of thickened fluids and address the existing limitations around storage and safe preparation procedures, the team introduced hot thickened drinks such as tea, coffee, and Milo into the existing mid-meal trolley services.
The drinks were prepared at the bedside according to patient preferences and Speech Pathologist recommendations, resulting in a significant increase in mid-meal fluid intake for affected patients.
Patients shared their appreciation for the greater variety of options and the ability to enjoy familiar hot drinks, which contributed to a sense of normalcy and satisfaction.
The overwhelming success of the pilot led to the permanent integration of hot thickened drinks into everyday patient care at QEII Hospital.
Erica Wright is the Manager, Research Development and Support at Metro South Health, and says Metro South Research is looking forward to seeing how the QEII grows the service to benefit more patients as it evolves.
“This project exemplifies the power of multidisciplinary collaboration in healthcare, demonstrating how teamwork and shared goals can lead to significant improvements in patient care and outcomes. The project team plans to continue this innovative work through a collaborative research project to further assess and improve patient care,” she said.
Special thanks to the Food Services and Dietetics Departments, who worked together with Speech Pathology for resource sharing, development, and governance, including the creation of a standard operating procedure; and to the Speech Pathology team, who provided recommendations for the safest fluids and ensured patient preferences were met.