To expect that a hospital should be able to meet my dietary needs?

Fraine · 14/01/2023 17:47

Can someone bring you food?

totallyhadenoughofthisbs · 14/01/2023 17:48

I feel you pain. There was nothing at all vegan last time I went in. Even the baked beans had dairy in for some reason.

Can you contact PALS when on a section? If so, try that?

LolaSmiles · 14/01/2023 17:49

They should make food available for you that meets dietary requirements.
Can you speak to a member of staff or PALS? Do you have any family or friends who could advocate for you?

SnowyMouse · 14/01/2023 17:49

Can you ask to speak to the ward manager?

converseandjeans · 14/01/2023 17:49

Will they allow you to order some food in? YANBU they should have some gluten free food.

OriginalUsername2 · 14/01/2023 17:49

They’ll give you beef when you have heart disease too. It’s a whole ignored area in hospitals. Obviously it would cost a fortune to do properly.

Simonjt · 14/01/2023 17:50

I feel your pain, I have a severe kiwi and strawberry allergy, I’m also dairy free, I have been given my allergen twice during hospital stays but it was visible so I was fine, the third occasion the kiwi had been picked out of a fruit salad.

I genuinely think hospital food is designed to be as awful as possible.

newnamethanks · 14/01/2023 17:50

I'm not remotely surprised. Make your own arrangements, you shouldn't have to but it will save you a lot of grief if you do.

Icantstopthisfeeling · 14/01/2023 17:52

Is it because the main meal time is over? I know DH has to pre order in the morning for his hospital stays. Sometimes he gets the meal choice of whoever has been discharged and was in that bed before him.
They usually just have random sandwiches on the ward as extras so unlikely to have GF sandwiches available.
Can the staff not sort anything out for you? Is anyone able to visit or drop something in.

YANBU though. I hope you can get something soon.

gogohmm · 14/01/2023 17:52

I'm guessing you are on an emergency admission? I'm surprised they don't have gf food on standby (baked potato and baked beans would suffice) but I'm guessing they are under resourced

x2boys · 14/01/2023 17:52

Balloonsandroses · 14/01/2023 17:45

Pretty sure I’m not being unreasonable! Been in hospital 24 hours now and just been to eat a meal for the first time (my choice). There is nothing gluten free. I have coeliac disease which they’ve known since admission. Gluten makes me vomit. So I can literally eat pepper, cucumber and lettuce. To add insult to injury this is a psych ward and I was admitted under section (still furious about this) so I can’t even leave and go and buy some food.

Have the staff requested .anything from the kitchens ?
I used to be a mental health nurse working in in patient care, tin my trust the did try to cater to different diets
does the hospital have a,shop that sells snacks ,a staff member might be able to and pick you some thing?
hopefully this is just first day teething problems ,as the hospital kitchens absolutely should be able to cater to your needs .

x2boys · 14/01/2023 17:55

gogohmm · 14/01/2023 17:52

I'm guessing you are on an emergency admission? I'm surprised they don't have gf food on standby (baked potato and baked beans would suffice) but I'm guessing they are under resourced

They can't keep.hot food on a ward ,they may salads or sandwiches that were left ,or cereal and bread but that will be about it ime.

backtoyoutom · 14/01/2023 17:56

Hospitals are horribly understaffed and under resourced now.

My friend gave birth last week, is coeliac, and wasn't given anything she could eat for 48hrs. In the end her brother took her in a take away and some Tesco meal deal food in a cool bag.

Sucessinthenewyear · 14/01/2023 17:57

My Dad had this when he changed hospitals. They just completely ignored the issue until I rang to check he had arrived at the second hospital. I had to go at 10 at night to buy and deliver him food.

Hankunamatata · 14/01/2023 17:59

I'm not sure how psych wards work. On main wards they usually have the menu and you choose options stating dietary requirements for the next day.

Original poster

Balloonsandroses · 14/01/2023 18:02

It’s just ridiculous to read that so many others have also had problems. Admission was decided at 3pm yesterday so they’ve had a while. Fortunately I’d actually prefer not to eat now anyway but it just seems crazy. Plus I haven’t even got started on the fact that the antidepressant I’m taking (which they’ve failed to give me because they don’t have it in stock despite my husband bringing it in) means I need to avoid another whole list of foods like cheese, marmite etc.
None of this is convincing me that I’m better off in hospital than at home!

OP posts:

underneaththeash · 14/01/2023 18:05

OP that’s awful. are you sure you’ve not misunderstood?
What are they sorting outfit tomorrow.

I absolutely think that they should not be catering for faddy unhealthy diets vegan/keto. But if you have a diagnosed autoimmune disease surely they do…

DisforDarkChocolate · 14/01/2023 18:06

I remember a fun stay in hospital with my son, diagnosed with lactose intolerance at the same hospital, being totally unable to eat because it was the weekend and the dieticians don't work weekends. No dietician, no food. It's a bloody joke.

x2boys · 14/01/2023 18:08

Balloonsandroses · 14/01/2023 18:02

It’s just ridiculous to read that so many others have also had problems. Admission was decided at 3pm yesterday so they’ve had a while. Fortunately I’d actually prefer not to eat now anyway but it just seems crazy. Plus I haven’t even got started on the fact that the antidepressant I’m taking (which they’ve failed to give me because they don’t have it in stock despite my husband bringing it in) means I need to avoid another whole list of foods like cheese, marmite etc.
None of this is convincing me that I’m better off in hospital than at home!

Yes unfortunately it's the weekend the pharmacy won't be open or only be open for a short.period ,that's why there will be a delay in medication ,( always been the case ) not sure why they won't allow you to use your own stock though ,although it will have to be locked in the drug trolley .

WeepingSomnambulist · 14/01/2023 18:10

underneaththeash · 14/01/2023 18:05

OP that’s awful. are you sure you’ve not misunderstood?
What are they sorting outfit tomorrow.

I absolutely think that they should not be catering for faddy unhealthy diets vegan/keto. But if you have a diagnosed autoimmune disease surely they do…

Vegan is not unhealthy.
I'm not vegan so not jumping to defend it as a vegan. Just what you've said is not true and no one should be forced to eat animal products just because they need medical care. You have a pretty shitty attitude.

x2boys · 14/01/2023 18:10

DisforDarkChocolate · 14/01/2023 18:06

I remember a fun stay in hospital with my son, diagnosed with lactose intolerance at the same hospital, being totally unable to eat because it was the weekend and the dieticians don't work weekends. No dietician, no food. It's a bloody joke.

Things do grind to a halt,at weekends in hospital,s!

Nicecow · 14/01/2023 18:10

I feel YAB a bit U, it's a hospital, not a hotel. How can they cater to every single need?

Jo586 · 14/01/2023 18:10

Daft vegan diet, no, but if you are intolerant, then 100% they should cater for you.

Suzi89 · 14/01/2023 18:11

Can’t you have a baked potato? I can’t have gluten and that’s what I had when I stayed in hospital

Natsku · 14/01/2023 18:11

Nicecow · 14/01/2023 18:10

I feel YAB a bit U, it's a hospital, not a hotel. How can they cater to every single need?

Hospitals absolutely should cater to medical needs and a gluten free diet for a coeliac is a medical need.