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Original poster

NHS to stop offering weatabix for breakfast in hospital

124 replies

ladybird69 · 28/04/2019 19:13

I just wondered what others experienced in hospital recently. I was in hospital for 3 days and was never offered breakfast just had lunch and supper that we ticked boxes on menu for. I never knew that they did breakfast, no wonder I was starving.

OP posts:
SherlockSays · 28/04/2019 20:55

Are you sure it wasn't being served in a common room on the ward? That's what I had after having DD last year - there was fruit, juices, toast, cereals & porridge.

Schuyler · 28/04/2019 20:57

I’m surprised to hear this, that’s not good. I’ve been unfortunate enough to be in around 5 or 6 different hospitals over recent years and have always been offered breakfast. I was actually in hospital last week and they definitely offered weetabix and other cereal as well as toast.

Bodicea · 28/04/2019 21:12

In my experience all wards except the antenatal/postnatal wards bring round breakfast. Why women that have had c-sections and have a new born baby to look after are less deserving of this than women have had hysterectomies (for example) is beyond me.

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chocatoo · 28/04/2019 21:13

Slightly off topic but sort of related, my DMum is in her 80s and went in for a day op. Had to be at the hospital for 7am (so got up really really early) and not allowed to eat after a certain time the night before. Mum has diabetes but had nothing to eat or drink until after her op - she wasn’t called down for the op until after 3pm. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have had her arrive at e.g. 10 or 11 am and allowed a light breakfast at 8am! They just don’t seem to think things through.

YesQueen · 28/04/2019 21:14

My food was delicious and brought to my bed. Although being single, I'm happy if someone makes me a brew Grin
The catering staff seemed delighted someone was eating and took to bringing me two cups of tea at a time, complete with cake Blush and ice cream "your throat must be sore from the op, here have some more"

englishdictionary · 28/04/2019 21:14

Why the fuck should hospital inpatients have to ask in order to be fed?

Realistically they shouldn't. However, breakfast service isn't really a priority in a life saving situation.

More like, why weren't the staff taking proper care of their patients?

Perhaps they were. See above.

YesQueen · 28/04/2019 21:15

Although to add, they did wake me up at 1am asking what I wanted for lunch the next day HmmConfused

SihtricsHorseWitnere · 28/04/2019 21:17

Realistically they shouldn't. However, breakfast service isn't really a priority in a life saving situation.

They're in a unit trying to recover, not in resus or A&E.

englishdictionary · 28/04/2019 21:18

They're in a unit trying to recover, not in resus or A&E.

Doesn't matter. There is more to saving lives than you see on casualty.

feelingverylazytoday · 28/04/2019 21:20

englishdictionary ensuring patients receive adequate nutrition is part of nursing care, so the OP should have been made aware of the arrangements for mealtimes.

Bringbackthestripes · 28/04/2019 21:21

I was in last month for a couple of nights and was offered cereal or toast and a coffee.
I chose toast. It was white bread that had glanced at a toaster, was wet with the condensation of being kept in something that didn’t even keep it warm and was spread with a plastic tasting spread.
I was starving so ate it gratefully.

Mumsymumphy · 28/04/2019 21:21

I'll never forget shuffling down the corridor after my Csection to get the food off the trolley, coming back like something akin to Mrs. Overall & the 'two soups' sketch.

SimonJT · 28/04/2019 21:24

I didn’t realise they had branded items, I thought it would be standard catering ‘brands’.

I had a hospital stay last year, toast was pre-buttered so I couldn’t eat it. Lunch sandwiches were pre-buttered so I couldn’t eat them, to top it off there also wasn’t a dairy free option at dinner! I discharged myself I was so hungry.

englishdictionary · 28/04/2019 21:25

ensuring patients receive adequate nutrition is part of nursing care, so the OP should have been made aware of the arrangements for mealtimes.

I don't disagree. I was merely pointing out to the poster who said 'why the fuck should they have to ask' that priorities exist. I even said they should not have to ask.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/04/2019 21:26

@englishdictionary - when I trained as a nurse, we were taught that proper nutrition WAS part of treating our patients! Nursing care included making sure our patients were properly nourished.

englishdictionary · 28/04/2019 21:28

when I trained as a nurse, we were taught that proper nutrition WAS part of treating our patients! Nursing care included making sure our patients were properly nourished.

Again, I don't disagree.

My comment about priorities was directed to the poster who said 'why the fuck should they have to ask'

As a nurse I'm sure you understand that attitude is unnecessary. Sometimes shit happens and we have to take personal responsibility.

SihtricsHorseWitnere · 28/04/2019 21:29

Apparently not, SDTG, not according to englishdictionary. Patients' breakfast in a unit = not a priority, they were busy dealing with umpteen crashes the entire 3 days the OP was in there.

Prequelle · 28/04/2019 21:30

Had to be at the hospital for 7am (so got up really really early) and not allowed to eat after a certain time the night before. Mum has diabetes but had nothing to eat or drink until after her op - she wasn’t called down for the op until after 3pm. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have had her arrive at e.g. 10 or 11 am and allowed a light breakfast at 8am! They just don’t seem to think things through

A lot of thought goes into managing surgical lists. Unfortunately people get put back as the day goes on as emergencies come in or beds aren't available as quickly as expected.

If she was a type 1 diabetic she should have been on a sliding scale to make sure her sugars were okay

On a related note, I always find it funny when people are complaining about eating then I realised i haven't ate or drank for much longer than them. Obviously different for diabetics but some people don't half act like their throats been cut when in reality they've only missed a single meal.

englishdictionary · 28/04/2019 21:31

siht

That's not remotely what I said.

SihtricsHorseWitnere · 28/04/2019 21:32

Yes, bad attitude. Someone was in for 3 days and not informed how to go about getting breakfast. Hmm Imagine! The mind boggles.

Prequelle · 28/04/2019 21:33

And despite me saying that (I'm mainly talking about those who have come through a&e that day and been asked to fast for a scan but then kick off because they cant have dinner) nutrition is vital especially for patients with wounds. But I wouldn't notice if my patient had missed breakfast, too busy to do that as that's when I'm giving medication out etc. If the person was so ill they couldn't tell me what they had ate they would be on a food chart so I can see they're getting enough nutrition, anyone else I would check in periodically but I would expect them to communicate to me.

englishdictionary · 28/04/2019 21:34

Yes, bad attitude. Someone was in for 3 days and not informed how to go about getting breakfast.  Imagine! The mind boggles.

I really think the 'why the fuck' comment was unnecessary. But I was very clear that it should not have happened. Stop trying to make out it was anything more than that.

SihtricsHorseWitnere · 28/04/2019 21:34

It is. A person who's in there for 3 days shouldn't have to ask how to feed themselves. That's poor care and ridiculous.

SihtricsHorseWitnere · 28/04/2019 21:35

I really think the 'why the fuck' comment was unnecessary.

A matter of opinion. Hmm I find it fucking appalling, nothing personal implied, of course Confused.

SihtricsHorseWitnere · 28/04/2019 21:37

As a nurse I'm sure you understand that attitude is unnecessary.

We're not in a hospital so bloody get over it. We're on a huge massive internet board. Hmm.

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