HOSPITAL staff in Bradford hope to have smashed a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest multi-site afternoon tea party.

The special cream tea feast was dished out on the wards of the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital to patients yesterday as part of national Nutrition and Hydration Awareness Week.

Helen Bromley, interim facilities manager for catering, said: “We decided to try to create a little bit of a party atmosphere around the wards by taking part in the Guinness World Record attempt. Putting on a special afternoon tea is an ideal way to focus everyone’s minds on the importance of food and drink."

The Guinness Record attempt which still has to be verified was one of highlighting how important nutrition and hydration is for good health.

This is the fourth year that the campaign, which runs until Sunday, has taken place and health professionals at the city’s two acute hospitals are running a week of events to raise awareness among patients, carers and staff.

Every lunchtime this week, dietitians from the Trust’s Nutrition and Dietetic Department will be on hand at the BRI’s main reception to answer any food and nutrition related questions or queries. The team will also be speaking to staff, patients and carers about topics including nutritional assessment and the appropriate use of snacks and nutritional supplements.

And there will also be competitions running in food retail outlets across the Foundation Trust to win a range of different food-related prizes – as well as the offer of a free bottle of water when people choose the healthy meal option from the Trust’s daily menus.