Forum Discussion

Patti_J's avatar
Patti_J
Member
6 years ago

Hospital food

Last week I was an inpatient in a public hospital. 
The food was very poor. 
One of the doctors looking after me, told me that the local health service attempts to feed patients for $2 per day. I wasn't even offered toast for breakfast. Instead, I was presented with two slices of dry bread.
I have sent an email to the local health service expressing my concerns. Hopefully, I  will hear back about what they think they should do about this.
Surely good nutrition aids recovery from any illness.
Obviously, those in authority, in their ivory towers, believe that buildings are more important than patients. Millions of dollars are being spent on refurbishment of wards, new car parks, etc.
Don't those in authority at hospitals realise that without patients, they would not have a job?
food
  • Patti_J's avatar
    Patti_J
    Member
    6 years ago
    There wasn't a toaster in the ward. 
    It was also an unplanned stay in hospital. I was very ill.
    There really are no excuses for such poor quality food.
    I spoke to the Consumer Feedback Manager in Clinical Governance for my local health district. She didn't have any answers for me.

  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    6 years ago
    I can tell you about the bread.  It's so it is sealed for each patient,  health regulations regarding letting toast sit on trays until it gets to the patients.  Our nurses will toast it for the patients on the ward if they want it.  They tried to do away with the water jugs and cups as well (again regulations regarding ice water taps and ice machines, plumbing, legionaires etc)  and just give patients 2 bottles of water for the day.  That didn't go down very well, so we got the ice water tap back with triple filter or some such thing, but the ice machines are a no no.  
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    6 years ago
    Gargh! This is a real issue. When ever I've been in the slammer to more than two days I order takeaway so I have at least one palatable meal a day. That has created issues on occasions as some hospitals don't like patients bringing their own food, and some try to expressly forbid it.
    I don't eat  much meat and never want it in hospital. I'm also a bit touchy when it comes to gluten so try to avoid it when possible. That narrows the menu considerably.
    I find out from the afternoon staff which restaurants deliver (nurses get meals brought in for themselves all the time) and order a good quality vego dish that I can split over two meals. I also take snack packs of nuts, precooked rice cups, tins of tuna and protein shakes.  I keep one of those Tupperware shake makers in my emergency bag. This should not be necessary, but apparently it is.