Southend Hospital’s catering supplier Medirest has introduced special blue crockery to help patients in the hospital’s frailty wards.

The new initiative is to assist patients living with dementia who have difficulties with sight and perception.

As a result of this, they are unable to distinguish between their food and crockery.

Claire Buckell, clinical development nurse for medicine, said: “Many patients found the existing cups heavy to hold and spilt some of their drink or needed assistance from nursing staff to hold the cups because the handles were so narrow, so they put all the weight onto one finger.”

Maxine Cartz, dietitian at Medirest, said: “Our blue plate range will provide further support to these patients by helping them to distinguish between the coloured plate and food.”