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Original poster

Hungry in a hospital!

22 replies

ServantofthePeople · 04/05/2022 22:51

I’m in Addenbrookes and likely to be here some time.
I’m not the patient -next of kin.
are there any cunning tips to get food in a hospital without leaving it/ missing out on important visits from docs? There was a trolley with sandwiches earlier…..

many insider tips welcome! Can I scarf an unwanted patient sandwich from the trolley?

OP posts:
worraliberty · 04/05/2022 22:53

Can't you order from Deliveroo or Just Eat and meet them at reception/in the car park?

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 04/05/2022 22:55

You cant eat the food provided for patients. That comes out of the hospital budget and they cannot afford to feed visitors.

Order take out. Or go to a shop and buy some stuff you can keep by the bed. Or leave for lunch then come back etc.

Just do what everyone else does

onepieceoflollipop · 04/05/2022 22:56

You can’t take patient food off trolleys.
at this time of night a doc visit is unlikely unless urgent.
perhaps politely enquire of the nurses if a medic is likely to attend your family member in the near future.
you could ask if there is a garage or similar nearby so you can nip out. If you are extremely lucky you may be offered tea and toast but this is unlikely and not something you should expect. If you go out, bring snacks back as well in case they are needed. You may be able to access hot or cold water if you ask and if the nurses aren’t horrendously busy.

Xmasbaby11 · 04/05/2022 22:57

Take your own food? Buy it from the hospital cafe?

SeenCanary · 04/05/2022 22:58

There’s a Burger King. Also a vending machine in A&E that does hot drinks if the wind is blowing in the right direction.

Reallybadidea · 04/05/2022 22:58

The food court has food available all night.

BreadAndWater · 04/05/2022 22:58

is the costa on site there not 24 hours anymore?
Im sure it use to be
Tomorrow, there is Costa, Marks & Spencer, A cafe and Burger King on site

MiddleParking · 04/05/2022 22:59

When I’ve been in hospital with my baby (baby being the patient) they’ve always fed me the hospital food at mealtimes. Both me and DH, sometimes.

supermodel · 04/05/2022 22:59

Addenbrookes has a concourse with lots of eating places/shops where you can sit in or takeaway food/drinks. I’m not sure though if anything is available 24 hours.

BreadAndWater · 04/05/2022 23:00

Guess it depends if you are in A&E or on a ward with a patent

CurlyhairedAssassin · 04/05/2022 23:07

It's an inbuilt skills that doctors have. My DS was in hospital a few months back. I stayed overnight with him. I waited and waited and waited for the ward round next morning, the nurses told me roughly when to expect the doctor. In the end I was so hungry I'd not had breakfast or lunch I ran downstairs to grab a sandwich to bring back to son's room. TWICE I did this, and both times, in the 10 mins I was gone, the doctor apparently came and went again immediately as I "wasn't there". So frustrating. It's these little things which could be really improved in the NHS - communication about what is happenign when. Instead of hanging around for hours and hours and hours with no-one telling you what's going on.

Hope you get some food from somewhere soon! (but not the patients'!)

Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 04/05/2022 23:07

Thanks!

OP posts:
Indigokitten · 04/05/2022 23:10

There will be vending machines that you can purchase food from..

BreadAndWater · 04/05/2022 23:12

A&E or on a ward?

Sodullincomparison · 04/05/2022 23:42

I remember subsisting on ready salted crisps and Fanta zero whilst my daughter was in hospital as that was all was available in the nearest vending machine which I could make a mad dash to. Pretty rubbish but not the end of the world.

I got my mum to come with some sandwiches and snacks the following morning. Can you ask someone to bring a bag to the ward?

this week we went to A&E for DD and I packed snacks and some drinks and DH mocked me mercilessly about going on a picnic.. wasn’t mocking me when he saw the wait was 5.5 hours.

DD was given dry Rice Krispies by the nurse as they couldn’t find any other food for her not even toast.

Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 04/05/2022 23:44

That’s good planning!

OP posts:
Original poster
ServantofthePeople · 05/05/2022 16:06

Happy to report the Costa is indeed 24 hours!

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 05/05/2022 16:11

Having had a few trips with DS I always take a portable charger and a picnic :D

BreadAndWater · 06/05/2022 02:35

Ah, yes, i did think it was 24 hours
Spent many an hour in Addenbrookes

Twentyfirstcenturymumma · 18/01/2023 18:33

ServantofthePeople · 04/05/2022 22:51

I’m in Addenbrookes and likely to be here some time.
I’m not the patient -next of kin.
are there any cunning tips to get food in a hospital without leaving it/ missing out on important visits from docs? There was a trolley with sandwiches earlier…..

many insider tips welcome! Can I scarf an unwanted patient sandwich from the trolley?

What on earth makes you think you can have free food from the NHS? Good grief!

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 18/01/2023 19:05

On the wards in many hospitals there is a trolley with items you can buy. Aimed at patients but fine for visitors to buy crisps/biscuits/drinks. Run by volunteers come by during visiting times to avoid ward rounds etc.

inigomontoyahwillcox · 18/01/2023 19:16

Zombie thread alert

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