“A sense of harmony and peace”: Mealtime safety and enjoyment on mental health wards

“A sense of harmony and peace”: Mealtime safety and enjoyment on mental health wards

In this episode, Professor Bronwyn Hemsley and her guests explore the complex world of mealtimes on mental health wards, including the perspectives of people with mental health conditions who experience difficulty swallowing. Mealtimes in hospital are important for gaining access to nutrition and drinks, and should provide opportunities for enjoyment and recovery. But being on a busy mental health ward in hospital can impact on the way a consumer experiences their meals. Discover how small changes can make mealtimes safer, calmer, and more enjoyable for people with dysphagia on mental health wards. Thanks to the University of Technology Sydney Disability Access and Inclusion Fund for supporting co-production of this episode. Resources: Guthrie, S., J.Baker, J.Cahill, and B.Hemsley. 2026. “Patient Perspectives on Inpatient Mealtimes: Insights on Swallowing, Mental Wellbeing and Recovery.” International Journal of Mental Health Nursing35, no. 1: e70212. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.70212 [https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.70212]. Dr Susan Guthrie’s Doctoral Research Thesis ‘The mealtime experiences of adults with mental illness living on inpatient wards’ - https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/35418/ [https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/35418/] Me At Mealtimes video on Dr Susan Guthrie’s PhD research - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIg2SLHk7vY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIg2SLHk7vY] Speech Pathology Australia – (go to ‘Find a Speech Pathologist’) - https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au   Host: Professor Bronwyn Hemsley Guests: Kate Starr (Research Assistant at the University of Technolgoy Sydney, Consumer) and Dr Susan Guthrie (Principal Speech and Language therapist for Leeds and York Partnership Trust, and Honorary Research Fellow at School of Healthcare, University of Leeds) Producer: Ali Aitken See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

“I managed to save myself”: Experiences of choking on food must inform prevention strategies

Choking on food and aspiration pneumonia are two of the leading causes of death for people with disability and older people in residential settings. These tragic deaths can be prevented with proper care and attention to every person’s swallowing and mealtime needs – whether that be through assessment by a speech pathologist, a clear and helpful mealtime plan, effective mealtime supervision, or attention to the person’s positioning during and after meals. In this episode Professor Bronwyn Hemsley and her guests with lived experiences of swallowing difficulty and choking on food, or investigating deaths due to choking on food, discuss the many angles of choking on food that demand greater and urgent attention. Thanks to the University of Technology Sydney Seed Grant fund supporting co-production of this episode. Resources: Safer Care Victoria (2026) GUIDANCE – Communicating Safe Eating and Drinking (Victoria State Government, Australia) - https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%20-%20Communicating%20safe%20eating%20and%20drinking%20-%20Accessible.docx [https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%25252520-%25252520Communicating%25252520safe%25252520eating%25252520and%25252520drinking%25252520-%25252520Accessible.docx]   Host: Professor Bronwyn Hemsley Guests: Fiona Given (Person with lived experience of dysphagia, coughing on food), Meredith Allan (Person with lived experience of dysphagia, food choking, and changes in swallowing across the lifespan), and Adjunct Professor Dr Jeffrey Chan Producer: Ali Aitken See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

“Mealtimes can change for anyone at any time”: Mealtime decisions for people with swallowing disability

In this three-part series within ‘What’s got us talking…’, researcher and person with swallowing disability Fiona Given helps us to understand the many factors affecting a person with difficulty swallowing. Across the three episodes, Fiona brings together the perspectives of people with lived experience of swallowing difficulty, their supporters, and health professionals. In this episode, Fiona and her guests focus on lived experience of swallowing disability across the lifespan - how swallowing changes over time, how it affects independence and identity, and what it takes to stay safe while still staying part of the social world of food. Gain insight into the issues that matter when co‑designing safe and enjoyable meals for people with swallowing disability. Thanks to the University of Technology Sydney Disability Access and Inclusion Fund for supporting co-production of this series. Resources: Hemsley, B., Almond, B., Given, F., Darcy, S., L’Espoir Decosta, P., Dann, S., … Balandin, S. (2024). Craving inclusion: a systematic review on the experiences and needs of people with disability eating out. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46(22), 5183–5198. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2295006 International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative - https://www.iddsi.org/home [https://www.iddsi.org/home] National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality & Safeguards Commission (2020) Practice Alert Dysphagia, safe swallowing, and mealtime management - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-05/practice-alert-dysphagia-safe-swallowing-and-mealtime-management.pdf [https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-05/practice-alert-dysphagia-safe-swallowing-and-mealtime-management.pdf] NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Worker training modules (go to ‘Supporting Safe and Enjoyable Meals’ module) - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workforce/online-training-modules [https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workforce/online-training-modules] Speech Pathology Australia, fact sheet, Swallowing difficulty - https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/Comm-swallow/Swallowing.aspx [https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/Comm-swallow/Swallowing.aspx] Safer Care Victoria (2026) GUIDANCE – Communicating Safe Eating and Drinking (Victoria State Government, Australia) - https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%20-%20Communicating%20safe%20eating%20and%20drinking%20-%20Accessible.docx [https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%252520-%252520Communicating%252520safe%252520eating%252520and%252520drinking%252520-%252520Accessible.docx]   Host: Fiona Given Guests: Meredith Allan (Person with lived experience of dysphagia, food choking, and changes in swallowing across the lifespan), Adjunct Professor Dr Jeffrey Chan, and Professor Bronwyn Hemsley Producer: Ali Aitken Assistant Producers: Bronwyn Hemsley, Fiona Given See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

“Mealtime plans need to be personal, clear, and practical”: Safety for people with swallowing disability

In this three-part series within ‘What’s got us talking…’, researcher and person with swallowing disability Fiona Given helps us to understand the many factors affecting a person  with difficulty swallowing. Across the three episodes, Fiona brings together the perspectives of people with lived experience of swallowing difficulty, their supporters, and health professionals. In this episode, Fiona and her guests talk about supporting safe and enjoyable meals. What can make them risky? What can improve safety? And how can teams, families, workers make good mealtime decisions for and with the people they support, that also prevent choking on food. Discover the considerations that can transform co‑designed meals into safe and enjoyable experiences for people with swallowing disability. Thanks to the University of Technology Sydney Disability Access and Inclusion Fund for supporting co-production of this series. Resources: International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative https://www.iddsi.org/home [https://www.iddsi.org/home] Melba Support Services (Dr Anneke Jurgens) https://www.melbasupport.com.au/ [https://www.melbasupport.com.au/] National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality & Safeguards Commission (2020) Practice Alert Dysphagia, safe swallowing, and mealtime management - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-05/practice-alert-dysphagia-safe-swallowing-and-mealtime-management.pdf [https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-05/practice-alert-dysphagia-safe-swallowing-and-mealtime-management.pdf] NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Worker training modules (go to ‘Supporting Safe and Enjoyable Meals’ module) - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workforce/online-training-modules [https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workforce/online-training-modules] Safer Care Victoria (2026) GUIDANCE - Communicating Safe Eating and Drinking (Victoria State Government, Australia) - https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%20-%20Communicating%20safe%20eating%20and%20drinking%20-%20Accessible.docx [https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%252520-%252520Communicating%252520safe%252520eating%252520and%252520drinking%252520-%252520Accessible.docx]   Host: Fiona Given Guests: Stacey Baldac (Speech Pathology Australia), Dr Anneke Jurgens (Melba Support Services), Associate Professor Deborah Debono (The University of Technology Sydney), and David Unwin (a person with lived experience of dysphagia) Producer: Ali Aitken Assistant Producer: Bronwyn Hemsley See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

“Mealtimes can be tricky”: Dysphagia and nutrition for people with swallowing disability

With high rates of swallowing difficulty (dysphagia, swallowing disability) in people with disability it is important that their lived experiences are heard in decisions about mealtimes to improve their safety and wellbeing. In this three-part series within ‘What’s got us talking…’, researcher and person with swallowing disability Fiona Given helps us to understand the many factors affecting a person with difficulty swallowing. Across the three episodes, Fiona brings together the perspectives of people with lived experience of swallowing difficulty, their supporters, and health professionals. In this episode, Fiona introduces the series by discussing dysphagia and its impacts on health and wellbeing, as well as the importance of a proper assessment, mealtime plans, and a collaborative team approach. Fiona and her guests Corinne Cox and Stacey Baldac expand upon issues for everyone to consider in designing safe and enjoyable meals for people with swallowing disability. Thanks to the University of Technology Sydney Disability Access and Inclusion Fund for supporting co-production of this series. Resources: Dietitians Australia, What are the Australian Dietary Guidelines? https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/health-advice/what-are-australian-dietary-guidelines [https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/health-advice/what-are-australian-dietary-guidelines] Evolve Nutrition and Health Solutions - https://www.corinnecox.com/ [https://www.corinnecox.com/] International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative https://www.iddsi.org/home [https://www.iddsi.org/home] Safer Care Victoria (2026) GUIDANCE - Communicating Safe Eating and Drinking (Victoria State Government, Australia) - https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%20-%20Communicating%20safe%20eating%20and%20drinking%20-%20Accessible.docx [https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%252520-%252520Communicating%252520safe%252520eating%252520and%252520drinking%252520-%252520Accessible.docx] Speech Pathology Australia, fact sheet, Swallowing difficulty - https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/Comm-swallow/Swallowing.aspx [https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/Comm-swallow/Swallowing.aspx]   Host: Fiona Given Guests: Corinne Cox (Advanced Accredited Dietician, Evolve Nutrition & Health Solutions), Stacey Baldac (Speech Pathology Australia) and Professor Bronwyn Hemsley Producer: Ali Aitken Assistant Producer: Bronwyn Hemsley See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.