Meal Provision Needed for Caregivers Who Stay With a Child in Hospital

The provision of meals for primary caregivers when caring for a child in hospital varies across regions in Aotearoa [New Zealand]. Where meals are not provided, caregivers are expected to bring their own food from home and/or purchase food from on-site (or nearby) vendors. Twenty-four qualitative interviews with 15 Maaori (Maaori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa comprising 16.5% of the national population) whaanau [family/families] from one public hospital revealed that caregivers are reluctant to leave their child alone and that financial constraints meant that caregivers were often alone, isolated, and hungry. We recommend implementing a national meal policy to support caregivers who provide much-needed physical and emotional care for their child during a hospital stay.