to think there should be healthy, appetising food for my friend in hospital?

[deaconblue]

She's in hospital for at least 5 days after having a masectomy, feels like crap obviously and the food is so unappealing. Hardly any fresh fruit or veg (lots of tinned fruit, sponge puddings and those diced carrot and swede bits from the freezer). Her parents have been meeting her at the ward door at lunchtime (visiting starts later than lunch so they come back then, bless them) with decent meals. I don't understand why the rules which apply to schools can't also be applied to hospitals.

mrshippy, this isn't a knocking the NHS thread. I think we all acknowledge that funds are limited.

Those running the NHS acknowledge that the food can be shit and that it does pose a problem for long term inpatients.

The point was being made that nutrition is an important part of recovery. Now it may be that we'd all be better off being responsible for our own food in hospital, with meals provided only for those who didn't have anyone to help. But then families would require frequent access to wards at various times of day and this isn't currently the system.

I'm a great supporter of the NHS. I've cost a fortune and will continue to cost £50-£100 a week for my pharmacy needs alone. I am seriously getting my money's worth!

When my friend was in hospital the food was terrible and I took her breakfast and lunch in and my sis took dinner in every day.
When I had my csection at the same hospital a year later I had the baby at 11 and was offered nothing until breakfast the following morning and there was nothing except cornflakes and warm milk - and then was offered no lunch or dinner that day the day after c section because I hadn't been there the day before to fill in a menu card - yes I was starving and breastfeeding - needless to say I discharged myself before dinner.

Like almost everything related to the NHS, it varies.

I'm in Aberdeen and I personally think the food is exceptional, as is the care and the cleanliness of all our local facilities.

I can well remember the shock on the catering lady's face when I complimented her on what had been a really tasty dinner. Apparantly they don't get too many compliments down in the kitchens.

Think yourself lucky if you get fed at all!

I recently spent 4 days in hospital on nil by mouth with suspected appendicitis because they firstly couldn't decided whether or not to operate, then my operation was postponed because of an emergency (prospective peritonitis obviously not being considered an emergency by this hospital).

When I FINALLY got a meal the day after the op it tasted like the best gourmet cooking ever! However, after the threat of starvation had diminished I realised that most of the food had the consistency (and taste) of vomit!

I was SOOOO glad to get home!

No this isnt about knocking the NHS. I personally do not have to be reminded how much they do and how much treatment costs.

But the food was crap and the fact it was crap caused a considerable amount of distress.

I was in hospital when I was 20 weeks pregnant and the food was awful and the portion sizes tiny. I was in for 8 days and my arms were like toothpicks by the end I made them let me go a day early cos I was so fricking hungry. Aside from the food it was a very nice hospital though!

I have only been in to have the DSs. The food was dire. DS2 came out at 3am after a longish session during which I lost my dinner, and then funny old thing by 5ish I was starving (ward was a bit too noisy for sleeping)...rang bell to see if I could have some toast and was told to get it myself.

Cue me driving cot down corridor and wedging it into doors while dripping everywhere.

The only person who brought me anything or offered to get me a drink was a lovely woman who was on the same ward. Poor things waters had gone at 20 weeks, prognosis not good and she was surrounded by babies.

I escaped the minute I could. I think the situation is desperate, and if any of my friends / family were in hospital I would do all I could to take them some tasty, healthy food.

for all who have had awful experiences.

YANBU and I agree the portion sizes are tiny. Their excuse is that people often do not feel like eating in hospital. I couldnt wait to get home for a proper meal.

YANBU. Food is an important part of the recovery process for both long term and short term patients.

It's important to eat healthily and well at any time of course, but even more so when the body is recovering from injury or illness.

It's also important for morale. Being in hospital is a rather miserable experience and being able to look forward to a tasty and interesting meal can help lift one's spirits a little.

And you get taken for an x-ray or to get a dressing changed or something just before lunch so you miss it and nobody cares. This happened to MIL a few times when she was in hospital shortly before she died and she couldnt really afford to miss any meals, being so weak

I totally agree with the OP. How can nutrition not be part of a healthy recovery? The food in the NHS hospitals is disgusting. I'd rather eat at McDonalds. Do you think we could convince Jaimie Oliver to start a delivery service to hospitals?

That's awful Bourneville.

Bonneville even. I'm craving chocolate if you can't tell.

Depressing thread. Agree that there seems to be a lottery across the country re: standard of food. I've worked in quite a few hospitals now and have seen this at first hand.
What some don't realise though, is that often the problem (especially with the elderly wards) is not the standard of the food, but getting the food from the tray into the person.
Many elderly people are simply unable to feed themselves, or need specialist help with eating and drinking. The wards just aren't equipped to provide the help. I've seen so many full trays of food (not great, but nutritionally ok) left untouched because someone was unable to reach the tray or feed themselves.
It's all about the staffing, as well as the funding for the food.

yyy hairtwiddler, my elderly aunt lost a horrific amount of weight when she was in hosp with a broken hip and left wrist. they were leaving it on the tray for her with a fork and it was only when my mum turned up and explained that she was left-handed as well as frail that the staff helped her. how they could have removed an old woman's untouched food for six days is a disgrace, and was the subject of a complaint. she died not long after getting out and the complaint upheld a link.

When I was in hospital having major surgery, most of the other women in my bay were elderly. One patient also only had use of one arm. The first few days another patient fed her and then I tried to help when the "well" patient moved on. I had had a very serious operation - eight hours, two consultants (that I knew of), hideous reaction to anaesthetic, you get the picture - yet I obviously went to help a poor old woman eat. I found it very difficult as she was half out of her mind and intermittently shouted at me. I was not well enough to deal with this so after two days I just insisted the HCAs came in and fed her.