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| Patients 'choked on hospital soft food' | Patients 'choked on hospital soft food' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two patients are reported to have died and seven more came to "significant harm" after people with swallowing difficulties were given inappropriate food, according to NHS Improvement. | Two patients are reported to have died and seven more came to "significant harm" after people with swallowing difficulties were given inappropriate food, according to NHS Improvement. |
| The regulator received reports of hash browns, mince and sponge cake being fed to patients in England who were supposed to be on liquidised food. | The regulator received reports of hash browns, mince and sponge cake being fed to patients in England who were supposed to be on liquidised food. |
| Hundreds of choking or coughing episodes also occurred from 2015-17. | Hundreds of choking or coughing episodes also occurred from 2015-17. |
| Experts are now calling for an end to the term "soft diet". | Experts are now calling for an end to the term "soft diet". |
| NHS Improvement, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the British Dietetic Association say the term can cause confusion among staff, patients and carers. | |
| 'Avoid further harm' | |
| Dr Kathy McLean, executive medical director at NHS Improvement, 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. | Dr Kathy McLean, executive medical director at NHS Improvement, 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," she said. | |
| Patients who have swallowing difficulties, known as dysphagia, or difficulty chewing need food which is soft, minced, pureed or liquidised. | |
| Some people with the condition can't swallow at all and some have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids. | |
| It can affect people of all ages and is often caused by another health condition such a stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia. | |
| NHS Improvement now wants all NHS staff to use clearly categorised food textures - as published by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative - to make sure patients are fed safely and correctly according to their individual needs. |