Should people in hospital supply thier own food.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

Another thread reminded me that when my Ff'd niece was in hospital my sister had to bring all her food in, as in her formula she was 5 months and not at that point had her first taste of solids.

Now based on this, where a patient is a baby and the hospital don't fund thier food should the NHS fund an adult to eat.

I very ill thought out thread on my behalf.

Mum was in hospital for 12 days recently 90 mins drive from me. She as already not eating well and loosing weight fast

The food was awful. Some I saw (omlette on a plate that's been kept hot and covered anyone) was inedible, some just unpleasant. She was apparently " eating well" but I handed back the stew and instant mash where she's picked out and eaten the 4 bits of meat.The apple she had was shiny and green but so hard she couldn't get her teeth into it, and no response to her request for a knife .She missed meals twice as in a side room.

It made me very sad. Both for my poor staved mother, who being 87 and stoical would never complain " because they are all so busy" but for the waste of NHS money.

We were lucky. Haematology ward had little fridges for patient use so we stocked her with posh high cal yoghurt and things she would eat .

She also washed her own pants and bra every day in the sink and put it on the radiator to dry :(

Meanwhile the coffee shop in outpatients was serving amazingly tasty, huge baked spuds with chili or beans and cheese for £3. Why can't that quality of food be on offer upstairs? Of I forgot.... that's the days food budget isn't it?

my mum was in hospital over christmas. she was provided with a christmas present too. (donations I think) she would have starved if she relied on me to bring in food, either that or the whole ward would have gone down with the nasty bug that ds was inccubating...

I don't think adults should have to bring in or pay for food, but I do think the baby's formula should have been provided likewise.

I think it was for my dd at gosh but it was prescription formula.

Parents of small children in hospital are often expected to do everything 24/7 (as we experienced at a different, local hospital). If the child is walking and under 5 ish it's actually quite dangerous for parent to leave for a moment as they will be up and wandering about potentially. How would a single parent manage to get their food and nappies?

I also think resident parent in hospital should be fed.