MONDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2025

Photographs attached:

1 - NHS Tayside’s Rachel Stewart and Sinéad McCarney embarked on the modified food diet to raise awareness of the plight facing patients

2 – A variety of foods brought in by NHS Tayside staff for the pureed pot lunch buffet lunch

Food challenge gives insight into issues facing cancer patients

Two NHS Tayside specialists challenged themselves to a pureed diet to gain invaluable insights into the difficulties faced by patients with head and neck cancers.

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Sinéad McCarney, and Specialist Oncology Dietitian, Rachel Stewart, embarked on the week-long trial to mark November’s Mouth Cancer Awareness Month.

The work of the Ninewells Hospital-based duo gave an insight into eating, drinking and swallowing issues, and will include patient reflections, the development of resources and service improvement while supporting multidisciplinary collaboration between dietitians, speech and language therapists and medical teams. 

Alongside the blended food diet, Sinéad and Rachel taste tested drink supplements, experienced the same hospital lunch as the patients, and held a ‘puree potluck lunch’, where staff brought in a buffet of only blended food items.

Rachel said, “Many of our patients need to have modified diets before, during or after cancer treatment like radiotherapy or surgery, and we wanted to experience what we recommend to them. Even as health professionals not experiencing the consequences of cancers or treatments, we have found this to be challenging, which gives us a greater appreciation for patients going through this process.”

Sinead added, “We hadn’t fully appreciated the preparation needed for meal planning, shopping and cooking, the equipment needed like blenders, food processors and sieves, and the increased time that was needed. The social aspect is also a big thing – there’s barriers to eating out, to sharing meals and snacks and favourite meals associated with occasions and celebrations can be hard to replicate.” 

Head and neck cancer patients may need to modify their diets: 

• Due to surgeries in the mouth, throat or jaw – difficulty chewing, swallowing difficulties, taste changes, limited tongue movement, dental extractions 

Due to side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy such as mouth ulcers, taste changes, poor appetite, nausea, swallowing difficulties 

• Due to tumours causing obstructions or difficulty eating 

• Modifying diet to ensure adequate nutrition to maintain health during cancer treatments and surgeries 

Hazel Robinson was diagnosed with oral cancer in February.

An issue was spotted during an emergency dental appointment and Hazel was referred to the Maxillofacial team at Ninewells. She was operated on in April; however, a series of complications meant many further surgeries were necessary and Hazel remained in hospital until July.

The NHS Tayside executive assistant from Broughty Ferry has experienced first-hand the enforced changes to eating that many patients in her position face.

She said, “From my first operation I was unable to eat orally and was on a tube throughout my stay. Rachel and Sinead were always there with support, encouragement and, when I was able to start eating orally, different suggestions as to what I could try.

“The modified diet was extremely difficult as the options feel more limited. My family and friends brought in some different foods with the help of Rachel and Sinead as to what would be appropriate and best nutritionally. It was exceptionally important to allow me to try different foods and textures.

“The whole team across various specialities have been amazing and epitomise why we can still say our NHS is the best in the world. It’s fantastic that Sinead and Rachel have tried the diet for themselves to get a real feel for what patients face – it’s extremely commendable.”

Contact:

Lee Harrow

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 74071