Medirest commits to Sophie’s Legacy promise – feeding the parents and carers of unwell children

First contract caterer to support remarkable young girl’s wish for free hospital food for parents and carers

Medirest, the healthcare business of food and support services provider, Compass Group UK & Ireland, will offer free meals to the parents and carers of unwell children in hospitals (paediatric patients on extended clinical care plans) across 20 NHS Trusts, meeting a wish set by a remarkable young girl,  Sophie Fairall, that forms part of “Sophie’s Legacy”.

As the first hospital caterer to make the commitment, the Medirest team will implement the change this year, working to ensure that parents and carers can access free food on the ward 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Food will include meals from the Steamplicity menus, across breakfast, lunch and dinner. The new provision will be funded by Medirest and follows a trial in partner hospital, Royal Surrey County Hospital.

Sophie's Legacy was created in memorial of Sophie Fairall and the legacy of change she wanted to create. Her time being treated for cancer led Sophie to want several things in healthcare changed and feeding the parents of children in hospitals was a priority. Sophie understood the importance of parents and carers not having to leave an unwell child if they need to get a meal and stressed the challenge of the cost associated with this issue (estimated at £15-18 a day for a parent). The Sophie’s Legacy organisation now works to highlight the importance of eating a balanced diet, to give parents the stamina to deal with the stress of having a sick child in hospital.

Sophie’s Legacy has been supported by Phil Shelley (Senior Operational Manager for NHS England), Ruth May (former Chief Nursing Officer for NHS England), and Kate Pye (former Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for NHS England), along with staff in various hospitals across the country. To date the charity has implemented successes such as snack and toiletry boxes in some hospitals and a children's cookbook produced in partnership with NHS Food Supply Chain.

Charlotte Fairall, Sophie’s mother, founder and CEO of Sophie’s Legacy commented: "I am thrilled that Medirest is leading the way as the first hospital caterer to provide meals for parents across all the hospitals they support. This initiative will make a meaningful difference to countless families who are navigating the challenges of caring for a child in the hospital. Seeing Sophie’s wish come to life in so many hospitals is a dream come true, and I am hopeful that this step inspires even more hospitals to follow suit and ensure that parents receive the nourishment they need during these difficult times."

Phil Shelley, Senior Operational & Policy Manager/ Chair of the NHS Review of Hospital Food said: “Sophie’s bravery shone a light on the importance and availability of good food for parents and carers whilst their children are in hospital. This led to the pilot project between NHS England and Sophie’s Legacy to provide food for parents and carers. I am pleased to see Medirest build on this with care and authority.”

Russell Blake, Managing Director, Healthcare – Compass Group UK & Ireland: “I am very proud to have worked with NHS England and the Sophie’s Legacy team, to ensure that parents and carers of children on extended clinical care plans are receiving good and nutritious food when their child is being treated in hospital. Our teams are privileged to be able to support in this way.”

Medirest is committed to continuing its support for Sophie’s Legacy and helping the organisation to deliver on Sophie’s wishes relating to food.

Sophie's Legacy commitments include:

1. Play specialist 7 days a week in hospitals
2. Improvements to food for children in hospital
3. For parents to be fed when staying with their child
4. For GP's, nurses and health professionals to be trained in childhood cancer
5. To increase the funds (currently 3%) in childhood cancer research