Food and nutrition are at the heart of patient care at The Hospice of St Francis and the kitchen is at the heart of the building.
Our award-winning chef, Chris Took, knows about the importance of good food and Chris and his team have transformed meal times for hundreds of terminally ill patients.
Chris’s mission is to do everything he can to enable people who have lost their appetite through illness or treatment to enjoy food once more.
Chris, who won the NHS for Health and Social Care Dignity in Care Award, understands how anxious families can become when patients struggle to enjoy food. He takes time to meet patients and talk to their families, taking note of dietary requirements and individual preferences and tailoring his menus accordingly.
For the patient and their families, knowing that food has been prepared with such care and close attention to detail, brings tremendous comfort and peace of mind.
Chris trains teams of volunteers to serve the freshly cooked meals for patients that he and his team prepare, as well as meals for family celebrations and home-cooked meals for family members.
He and his team are also involved in the innovative bereavement programme “Cooking with Chris,” which aims to equip bereaved adults and teenagers with vital cooking skills, promote well-being and use food therapeutically to enhance communication.
If you work in a hospice and would like to come and visit to find out more please contact Chris Took by emailing chris.took@stfrancis.org.uk or by calling 01442 869 550,
Features:
BBC Radio 4 Food Programme - Bereavement and Food
BBC Radio 4 Food Programme - How we eat: Eating alone