I have noticed on many wards that the introduction of family-feeding-relatives-being-good-for-holistic-patient-care actually being used as if-you-don't-come-in-to-feed-them-they-won't-be-fed-as-I-will-be-taking-the-time-to-complete-paperwork/have-a-coffee/ring-my-boyfriend.... It annoys me - as a student nurse and a healthcare assistant, I find that when you take that time with a patient you get to know them, and build up a good therapuetic relationship. I enjoy sitting with patients at meal times, and making it a social event, as appossed to the "dreaded lunch hour". It really infuriates me. I hope that you're family are able to manage it, if not ask the ward if they have assistant feeders (awful title) but they come in purely to help feed patients that need assistance, and they are all volunteers...so they have a different attitude. Hope she gets better! Beckie