Food as a Component of Patient‐Centred Care in Emergency Departments: Preliminary Findings

Objective To explore the role of food in patient‐centred care for culturally diverse communities within Emergency Departments (ED). Methods The ‘Not Just a Meal’ project conducted four focus groups with 28 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) participants, examining ED food experiences and preferences. Results ED food was perceived as cold, unappealing, and culturally inappropriate, heightening vulnerability and leaving dietary needs unmet for patients and carers. Conclusions ED food provision must improve to enhance care equity and outcomes. Practice innovation, policy reform, and multi‐site studies are needed to scale these preliminary findings.