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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect better food choices on a childrens ward?

99 replies

NoodleFace · 29/06/2014 22:38

Chips, mash, beans, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, sausage and pasta with bolognaise or cheese sauce. AIBU To think this is a disgusting choice of food for a childrens ward?

We have been in hospital since Wednesday and this is the daily menu, occasionally there will be a choice of jacket spud (no fillings other than above) or sandwiches, beans subbed for peas.

Is it unreasonable to expect more variety, with potentially a different special dish each day? Maybe a casserole or baked dish in addition to the other rubbish food options?

OP posts:
Original poster
NoodleFace · 29/06/2014 23:20

ch1a in the past I have always ticked a box in the morning for what I would like to eat in the evening, choice not great but still a choice and food was edible. This is the first time I have experienced a children's ward and I am appalled at the lack of choice.

I understand some older kids love this kind of food and I understand it's cheap and easy. But really, a large shepherds pie isn't that different from what's already there but at least it would be a change!

OP posts:
Original poster
NoodleFace · 29/06/2014 23:21

WTF! Where did you go and get no toast? We get toast here as an option for breakfast!

No hot drinks at bedside though

OP posts:
Sirzy · 29/06/2014 23:23

Tbh I was more outraged by the fact you no longer get toast on the wards for health and safety reasons! What new mum wants bread and marmalade.

That normally comes down to individual wards and the number of burnt toast alarms they have had.

DS was given toast for breakfast and there was a toaster (and mircowave and kettle) in the parents room for parents to make their own

AnotherStitchInTime · 29/06/2014 23:23

I agree, I was on the antenatal ward for 2 months before last Christmas and the choice of meals was great.

When dd2 was in hospital recently the choice was dire and it tasted and looked like reformed mushy cardboard. We ended up buying microwave meals in the supermarket over the road and sharing them with her.

AnotherStitchInTime · 29/06/2014 23:24

I agree, I was on the antenatal ward for 2 months before last Christmas and the choice of meals was great.

When dd2 was in hospital recently the choice was dire and it tasted and looked like reformed mushy cardboard. We ended up buying microwave meals in the supermarket over the road and sharing them with her.

Bogeyface · 29/06/2014 23:24

HOt drinks only in the parents lounge at our local. Not that you would want one because they leave a single pint of milk for a very large ward of patients, so it doesnt last beyond first morning coffees. And if you take your own (as I did when DD was in) it gets pinched even if you label it and hide it!

helensburgh · 29/06/2014 23:27

Our local kids hospital does fab food, lots choice, healthy , not healthybetc.

However been in two diff specialist children's hosptals and its been pizza, nuggets, chips beans every day!

Sirzy · 29/06/2014 23:28

(I am beginning to love our kids ward even more now)

We are allowed to make drinks in those insulated mugs if you want to take them to the bedside. Never used to be allowed but it's been a godsend since it was introduced. When DS was little and in hdu the night staff did used to smuggle me in hot chocolate and coffee over night though and sweets and chocolate!

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 29/06/2014 23:28

It's a whole hospital policy here, no ward is allowed to make toast although the labour ward refuse to obey and do make toast for mums in the staff room but once you go up to the maternity ward it's just bread. It's crap because you only get a skimmed milk with cereal which I hate so had to go with the bread and marmalade option. Fortunately DH would turn up with a breakfast sub from subway most days!

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 29/06/2014 23:30

To be fair to our local hospital on the childrens ward they do fill up the fridge in the parents kitchen with pre made sandwich's for mum's and dad's. But no toast is still a travesty

fluffymouse · 29/06/2014 23:31

Hospitals are not hotels. Unfortunately with ever more squeezed budgets there is not much money left for food.

If you are unhappy I would bring take out or food from home. Or maybe raise some money for the hospital to help them.

Really I think people should be grateful for the NHS, and not focus on very minor issues like this.

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 29/06/2014 23:34

I do agree with you fluffymouse in general I think we are bloody lucky to have the NHS.

mousmous · 29/06/2014 23:34

nutricious eadible food for patients is not a minor issue imo.

PancakesAndMapleSyrup · 29/06/2014 23:36

But fluffymouse its not a minor issue is it. This is a childrens ward. I would also argue the elderly too. It should be nutricious (cant spell it) and inviting to try and get the kids to eat. It really isnt hard and does not have to be cost expensive to feed them something more palatable. Steamed potato instead of chips, meatballs in a sauce full of veg for example etc

fluffymouse · 29/06/2014 23:40

It is a minor issue in comparison to the medical care, which we are very lucky to have in this country.

Funds are limited, and improving food quality is expensive. If you don't like this then it is up to you to do something about it.

MrsCakesPremonition · 29/06/2014 23:42

James Martin has been running a campaign to improve food in hospitals. One episode, he looked at food on a children's ward. The food was repetitive and all the usual suspects and (in my eyes) really depressing. But it was very interesting to hear the nutritionists talking about the needs to get food into young patients. The children are ill, frightened, away from all routine and have a tendency not to eat anything - therefore providing a menu of familiar favourites is reassuring and actually helps recovery and reduces stress.
Far from being lazy, the menu was a deliberate policy to ensure children eat. James obviously found ways to improve the production of food (freshly prepared chicken nuggets etc.) but the menu itself had to remain unchanged.

more info here.

arethereanyleftatall · 29/06/2014 23:43

I think hospitals, like restaurants, just haven't moved with the times.
With blw and people generally being much more health conscious, kids food has become more like adult food.
But lots of places don't seem to have realised this yet.

TabithaMcKitten · 29/06/2014 23:45

We spend a lot of time on the paediatric ward whilst my son has chemotherapy. The food is shocking and so I provide as much as I can myself. After a dose of chemo he really doesn't feel like eating microwaved faggots (or any other time really!).

Bogeyface · 29/06/2014 23:49

Hospitals are not hotels. Unfortunately with ever more squeezed budgets there is not much money left for food.

If you are unhappy I would bring take out or food from home. Or maybe raise some money for the hospital to help them.

Really I think people should be grateful for the NHS, and not focus on very minor issues like this.

WTAF?! We all know that diet plays a major part in heath yet you say it is a minor issue?!

So the fact that we should be having 5 (or is it now 7?) a day to prevent us getting obese, heart disease, a stroke or cancer means nothing when you get through the doors, despite the fact that a good diet to patients would mean a quicker recover and therefore less cost to the NHS overall?

What you eat makes a massive difference to health and recovery from a major illness/surgery. If you think that is a "minor issue" then you are, in fact, a twat.

Bogeyface · 29/06/2014 23:52

tabitha that is exactly my point. How is your wee man supposed to deal with Chemo and his treatment on a diet of chicken nuggets and lukewarm chips?! A good meal with lots of veg would boost him in a natural way and save the NHS money because he wouldnt need supplements.

I hope he recovers soon, love and thoughts with you xxx

fluffymouse · 29/06/2014 23:57

Bogeyface you have missed the point entirely!

As other poster have said there is a reason why the food is generally high in fat.

Having healthcare which is free at the point of access is far more important than the quality of the food.

Budgets are finite and very stretched. Where would you like the NHS to take funds from to improve food? Fewer nurses? Less expensive medications for cancer patients? Less doctors?

Bogeyface · 30/06/2014 00:07

Having healthcare which is free at the point of access is far more important than the quality of the food.

Tell that to Tabitha who has to take in food to her son who is receiving chemo.

I have not missed the point, but you are very defensive which makes me wonder if you are the chair of my local hospital because she came out with the same shite a couple of months ago.

Sirzy · 30/06/2014 00:09

Just because patients may need high fat diets doesn't justify serving the same food at every meal, not does it justify not letting children have access to the same meals as adults

arethereanyleftatall · 30/06/2014 00:11

Ok bogey face, if you were to say to tabitha, we have £x pounds in the pot, would you prefer us to continue with the chemo, or stop it and give your son a lovely, nutritious meal, which do you think she'd choose?

Sirzy · 30/06/2014 00:13

It doesn't need to be an either or though. Even on a limited budget they can provide at least a variety of choice of meals and a few bits of fruit surely?

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