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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that meals in hospital shouldn't be free?

203 replies

quimstrings · 22/06/2010 17:07

It just seems a bit strange. You'd have to pay for it if you were at home. The cost of feeding hospital patients must be astronomical, and the food (in my quite extensive experience) is pretty crappy. Cheap, badly cooked, and in many cases unsuitable for specific dietry requirements.

Wouldn't most people be happy to pay for their meals, and in return expect to be served appealing, healthy food?

Obviously patients in for extended periods or those on benefits should be offered a free/heavily subsidised option.

It would require some investment to completely change the system - but surely it would save millions in the long-run?

What do you think?

OP posts:
LetThereBeRock · 22/06/2010 17:10

YABVU.

Food plays an essential part in recovery.It's a basic need not a luxury.
People need the nutrients and calories more than ever when ill.

If people were charged for food there'd be many who'd go without meals and that would only lead to further health problems.

TottWriter · 22/06/2010 17:10

It wouldn't work. How can you have a service which is free at the point of service adn then charge for an essential element of it? You can't put someone on a ward to monitor them without feeding them, and means testing people on entry into the hospital would never work.

That's getting scarily like a pay-per-treatment service.

The food is crap, but the answer to improving it isn't to make people "pay" for it - which they do anyway, through their NHS contributions.

secunda · 22/06/2010 17:11

Food is a basic need so YABU. There are many other things in the health service that could be cut

KorkiiEffenkrakers · 22/06/2010 17:12

I was in hospital recently and the food was bloody gorgeous. I was due out at 4pm but lingered so I could get mt dinner at 5 before I left. And yes YABU. People are ill/stressed. They shouldn't be anxious about budgets etc. Also people on low budgets may need the extra nutritious food they might otherwise not get. I would never begrudge an ill person a nice dinner. You are being very mean and unreasonable. Perhaps you are a Tory politician testing the water?

HurleySatOnMe · 22/06/2010 17:12

It wouldn't work. How on earth would you prove you were on benefits for a start? Or should I have a big B stamped on my forehead for convenience?
In fact, scrub that MNHQ. I don't want to be giving Dave Cameron ideas

StripeyMoon · 22/06/2010 17:15

YABVU, it is a basic right.

On a lighter note, lets also not forget how shit the food is in hospital canteens where you do pay.

DramaInPyjamas · 22/06/2010 17:15

Most people are not in hospital by choice. so, YABU.

btw, any hospital meals I have ever had have been amazing.

LetThereBeRock · 22/06/2010 17:17

I think improvements are needed but in the quality of food,in some hospitals, and access to suitable food.I realise it'll never be gourmet food but providing food that people will want to and can eat actually saves money,as many health problems are caused or exacerbated by malnutrition.

If Riven won't object to me using her as an example then I'll do so in order to discuss one issue I have with the current system.

Her dd must have a ketogenic diet in order to attempt to control her seizures. Yet she's unable to get appropriate food while her dd is in hospital.

It's not just food.In Riven's dd's case it's also a medical treatment. Yet they aren't willing or able to provide appropriate food. It isn't right.

mrsmindcontrol · 22/06/2010 17:17

YABU- I've just spent 2 weeks in hospital for monitoring of my baby's position.

The whole business was hideously inconvenient for my DH and my DC and I think I would have walked if they had suggested I pay for my meals- any excuse!

In actual fact, the food wasn't that bad. Monotonous, yes, and definitely not as full of nutrients as it ought to have been but I would suggest that it was a whole lot better than MOST people eat at home.

going · 22/06/2010 17:18

Imagaine how hard it would be for the nurses seeing someone starve as they have refused to pay for food - which people may do as a motter of principle!

LetThereBeRock · 22/06/2010 17:19

Now some hospitals may be able to provide ketogenic and other medically prescribed diets but surely this should be provided in all hospitals?

booyhoo · 22/06/2010 17:19

food is vital to aid recovery from illess. if people were charged, they could then use the cost as a reason not to eat and then hinder their recovery. it would end up coasting teh NHS alot more.

belgo · 22/06/2010 17:21

agree with boohoo - good food is vital for a good recovery.

If you had to pay the wards would be full of patients eating pizzas and Maccy-D etc.

addictedishavingagirl · 22/06/2010 17:21

yabu.

when i went in for an operation before i could leave, like most people, i had to have a meal. i didnt want to eat, and if they had given me a bill for the meal i would have been very annoyed. i had perfectly good food at home i could have eaten.

and when my 3 day old sister was rushed into hospital they fed my mum who didnt want ot be there, she didnt want to eat their food, but she couldnt leave my dsis on her own to go home and eat, where she had perfectly adiquate food, she had to eat there.

and what about thoes people who arent on benifits or are in for a long stay who cant afford to essentially 'eat out' for 2 or 3 meals while they stay in hospital. me and dh live on a budget and an unexpected hospital trip with a food bill to pay at the end of it would have us up the creak.

food is a basic necessity and i would be very annoyed if they started charging patients for it.

addictedishavingagirl · 22/06/2010 17:23

ohh i was too slow, xposted with lots of people!

LittleBudaOnLine · 22/06/2010 17:27

YABU because food you make at home is always cheaper than anything that is cooked by someone else. So you might be able to pay to feed yurself at home but to have a restaurant meal 3 times a day for the length of your hospital stay.

5DollarShake · 22/06/2010 17:28

Yes, you'd pay for it if you were at home, but you'd pay for a shop where you buy all the ingredients yourself. You wouldn't pay for each meal per se, as if you were dining out three times a day.

The difference in cost between those two scenarios would be immense.

Totally unrealistic to expect patients to pay for each and every meal they consume for the duration of their stay in hospital.

There are better ways to make savings.

MaudofallHopefulness · 22/06/2010 17:32

That would be the thin end of the wedge if you ask me. Either we have an NHS (which I thoroughly support) and it is free, or you have some horrible insurance based system.

I imagine lots of starving pensioners in teh wards worrying about money if people had to pay. Besides, food is often just as much a part of treatment as drugs or surgery.

follygirl · 22/06/2010 17:33

YABU. My dad was in hospital for 10 weeks. During that time I was spending over £12 per day for the privilege of seeing him and looking after him.

I think that having to pay for carparks is bad enough, but for meals as well!!!!

3BreastsInMyShirt · 22/06/2010 17:34

I'm with OP. Hosital food is so crap it isn't going to be aiding many people's recovery. Not like they are getting restaraunt type food anyway.

Patients moan endlessly about it. Either get family to bring in food at meal times (and stay and help feed patients not able to feed themselves) or charge.

Doesn't have to be a big charge - People in hospital aren't having to pay for their food at home so why should hospital food be free?

YANBU. Charge them, improve quality and ensure people actually get decent food they can eat. Then patients can moan about it if something is wrong.

3BreastsInMyShirt · 22/06/2010 17:35

and the argument about people refusing o pay and then starving? so what - they've made a choice. if someone is an adult and can make that choice why should they be pandered to and free food supplied?

MumNWLondon · 22/06/2010 17:36

There are so many other costs that could be cut before this.

But as higher rate taxpayer, I wouldn't mind paying (I wouldn't eat though, I'd get family members to bring nicer food in from home).

We had to pay £25 for car park when I was there having DS2, alternative was paying similar amount for taxi whilst in labour....

muggglewump · 22/06/2010 17:37

YANBU, you should be paid to eat them, given they are beyond vile.

Ladyanonymous · 22/06/2010 17:37

No YANBU - its called private health care.

Original poster
quimstrings · 22/06/2010 17:42

I'm not a Tory politician

I absolutely agree that food is a vital part of recovery.

Something needs to be done about the quality of food that is served in hospitals. Obviously some poeple have had amazing and delicious meals whilst in hospital, but I think a lot haven't.

I'm not suggesting that people pay restaurant prices, or expect to be served gormet food. Just wholesome, nutritious, appropriate, appetizing meals for a small price, rather than low quality, unappealing and often inappropriate slop for free.

OP posts: