1 in 3 'unhappy with hospital food'

Neal Keeling

December 17, 2007

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HOSPITAL food can still be grim, according to a new report.

One in three hospital patients is unhappy with the quality of food they receive, a survey reveals.

A quarter of the 1,000 patients questioned by consumer charity Which? said they had to rely on relatives to bring them something edible. Patients described hot food being still frozen in the middle or congealed and stuck to the plate.

The government said it expected health trusts to meet guidelines on NHS nutritional standards.

Which? also surveyed staff and 21 per cent of those quizzed admitted they would be unhappy to eat the food served to patients each day. Locally, patients in Salford and Trafford say the quality of food is good. But food for visitors at Salford's Hope Hospital is poor.

Kevin Peel, co-ordinator of Salford Patients' Forum, said: "Patients are generally really happy with the quality of food provided.

"But we made a surprise visit to Hope's café and restaurant for visitors and found portions small, unappetizing and cold.

"The hospital has said it will make improvements."

Tasting

The trust which runs Hope says it has made a number of improvements to the quality and range of its food, including introducing hospital food-tasting days, where members of the public can sample different dishes. A food and nutrition day is planned on January 4.

The hospital also held a Day of Service Excellence in July, when matrons and catering staff visited wards to ask patients what they thought about hospital food

Sonja Brine, services manager, said: "We have made significant improvements to the quality and range of hospital food such as using more fresh ingredients, increasing the choice of hot and cold jacket potato fillings and providing more soup.

"Soups are all made from fresh vegetables for each meal time, all roast meats are freshly roasted and all special requests are catered for, from a boiled egg to special requests for a particular product.

"Patients are giving us positive comments about the quality of the food. Kitchen staff also cater for a wide range of specific dietary requirements including Halal, Kosher, gluten-free and allergy diets."

There have been no formal complaints about hospital food during the past 12 months.

Clare Corbett, health campaigner at Which? said: "Our research provides yet more evidence that patients and NHS staff are unhappy with hospital food. So why isn't it getting any better? It would seem silence is anything but golden when it comes to hospital care. Patients with serious concerns don't speak out."

Earlier this year food critic Loyd Grossman, once drafted in to revamp NHS menus, accused ministers of failing to take hospital patients' nutrition seriously. Mr Grossman was asked to head the government's £40m Better Hospital Food Programme seven years ago.

He said there was no political commitment to improving hospital food.

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GOD IS A BLUE, Failsworth (17/12/2007 at 12:57)

It's a hospital not a bloody resturaunt !

alvinlwh (17/12/2007 at 19:18)

I am not too fuss about what I eat as long as it is food.

STNMRI, Manchester Royal Infimary (17/12/2007 at 19:37)

I completely agree with this article. As somebody that works daily with hospital food I think it's appauling at how 'horrible' the food really is. Patients that are in hospital need the right foods to help them recover. How are people expected to recover if they are not even provided with all the right nutrients. To me, its one of the most basic needs of a patient, and the NHS can't even get that right.
Another problem I have with it is the portion sizes. Patients are given a very small portion and then most of the food goes to waste (straight into the bins anyway.)
Something should be done, however, even this is doubtful.

JustPete, Mank (17/12/2007 at 23:01)

I think this is just funny, people going into hospital and increasing they're blood pressure over a bit of FREE tucker.

SamV, Manchester (18/12/2007 at 09:47)

I spent some time in MRI earlier this year, the food was acceptable, but no way near being enough.

Despite eating and finishing the 3 meals provided by the hospital, I was having to pop out to the local chinese restaurant each day for a top up meal.

P Dorff (19/12/2007 at 09:25)

You need a good standard of nutrition to help aid recovery and while hospital food is as it is, your only real chance of a good recovery isn't going to come from the contents of your dinner plate.
The type of food on offer is unpalatable, hard to digest - and what is that mystery meat they say is a 'burger'???
I did read somewhere that less is spent on hospital food per head than on school dinners per head... make you think, doesn't it? If you're sick and you have a child at school, the child is going to get better all-round nutrition than you're going to get...
And isn't the whole point of paying to park a car at the hospital supposed to help swell the coffers and help the hospital?
In fact, it's been proved that an extra few pence per head can be shelled out to provide better nutrition to patients in hospital. Right now, those of us who have to be in hospital will have to put up with the 'heat and eat' foods brought in.
I doubt there is much 'fresh' food in any hospital kitchen as the staff only know how to heat up stuff.
There are NO chefs in any hospital ANYWHERE.
It's all fair and well if you have to see a dietician, but it's of little use once you're in a hospital bed. If hospitals employed a chef or two, they could do wonders to help people stick to whatever diet they're on and help provide good food for the patients to help aid that much needed recovery!
It's one reason why I am avoiding going into hospital at all.
Food does affect how you feel, good fresh food is the best you can get and you won't get offered that in hospital.
As someone who has an allergy to eggs and a low tolerance to gluten and needs to keep their diet in constant check, the LAST thing I want right now, is to end up in hospital and being given an egg salad sandwich for dinner...

the beer baron (19/12/2007 at 10:36)

The wine list's pretty good at my local BUPA hospital.

edwards (19/12/2007 at 12:40)

by some complicated formula i have deduced that 2 out of 3 people were 'happy' with hospital food which is another way of looking at it. in any event, is it possible to satisfy everybody? i mean, some people are just born to see disatisfaction in everything. I suppose catering was one area in the NHS which money could be seen to be saved in.

Grimnir (20/12/2007 at 08:41)

STNMRI - as you work at the MRI you should know that the NHS laid off the chefs years ago in favour of outside Catering brought in. You should also know that time and time again they are told to "work to a budget" - which means that they are givin very little money to feed the place on - this is a Westminster decision so blame them. The Trust does the best it can given the short-change it is provided with, if you can do it better - cook for them yourself! I get fed up with people slagging off the MRI's food system. For GOD sake - you are in there because you are ILL - you are not attending a function or a banquet. The food IS going to taste odd - you're poorly. I think they do a good service given what they get from moaning sods who think they know better.

Timberman, MANCHESTER (20/12/2007 at 10:02)

I must agree with quite a few of the comments, during a three week stay at the MRI the quality of the food passable, it was the quantity
that was a joke.
On the menu you have to state Large or Small portions
both portions are the same, maybe one baby carrot extra on the large one.(sad,sad, sad I'm going to have to get a life)
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

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