Dr Joyce Thompson, NHS Tayside’s dietetic consultant in public health nutrition, said the area had already made a big commitment to improving standards, ahead of a national announcement today.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, launching the Food, Fluid and Nutrition programme at Wishaw General Hospital, said £1.08 million has been made available to allow boards to appoint the champions.

Dr Thompson said NHS Tayside had already made improved nutrition in hospitals a priority, and had backed that with funding from its own budget.

The health authority was now in the sixth year of a programme to improve hospital nutrition, which initially concentrated on elderly people, but had now widened out to include the majority of adults.

“There is a small nutritional standards project team in place, operating across Tayside to support healthcare professionals to implement national standards,” said Dr Thompson.

She welcomed the “strong lead” the Scottish Government was giving to nutritional standards and the extra cash given to health boards, which amounts to £40,000 over two years for Tayside.

This would be used to employ a nutrition champion.

“It helps us move on a bit more, a bit faster and for other boards, probably gives them a start,” said Dr Thompson.

She said one in three adults in Scottish hospitals were “at risk of mal-nutrition on admission”.

Good nutrition was “critical” to their clinical care.

In Tayside most adults had their nutritional needs assessed on admission and “a specific care plan” was formulated in relation to nutritional needs.

Launching the Food, Fluid and Nutrition programme and the appointment of nutrition champions in Wishaw today, Ms Sturgeon said, “They will help to address the nutritional needs of all patients, whatever their dietary requirements are. A nutritious, balanced diet is clearly a crucial part of every patient’s treatment and recovery.

“That is why we are launching this programme to highlight the importance of the appropriate food provision for all patients.

“We are also providing help and support for staff to implement the programme by providing funding for boards to appoint nutrition champions.

“I believe these nutrition standards will make a real difference to patients’ experience of hospitals and will, ultimately, make a significant contribution to the quality of care in our hospitals.”