Solitary chicken - need advice

[Chickendoodle]

There has been a lot on the news today about the standard of hospital food and the fact that there is a budget of about £2.50 a day per person.

 

It got me thinking - why do we expect to get free food in hospital? If we were not in hospital we would be feeding ourselves. School meals are not free so why should we not pay a similar amount for hospital food.

 

Presumably it was decided at some time that it would be an administrative nightmare but it seems illogical to me. All that money spent on food could be used elsewhere in the NHS.

 

Am I missing something obvious here?

[Patricia W]

I think the administration of such a system will cost more than the savings.

[PurpleTree]

I haven't really thought about it

 

When my eldest was a newborn he had to go back into hospital because of bad jaundice, because I was breast feeding I stayed in with him & I was given meals. If I had been bottle feeding I would've had to find my own food. It was good for me at the time, but it seemed a bit unfair!

[C&T]

I view food in hospital as part of your treatment. A healthy diet can really help the speed of your recovery. All those vitamins and not to mention low in cholesterol amongst many other things! I know many people do bring in their own food (I know I have!) but if you start charging that will go up - think of all the McD's etc etc which surely cannot help recovery - especially if your issues are caused by what you are eating.

 

Also you will have people who will not have money to spend on food - thinking of the homeless as well as people that just aren't in a position to pay. Or the mentally ill without the capacity. And if you are going to charge people will expect an awful lot more, and the service will have to completely change. For example, in our local Hospital you order the night before for the next day. If you are discharged, then whoever gets the bed after you gets what you order. You wouldn't be able to do that if you were charging for the service.

 

The NHS is there to treat all, with free at point of care healthcare. That has to include food.

[PurpleTree]

I've had 5 stays in hospital and I've enjoyed everything they've given me. Even when I was in labour I ate everything!

 

I agree, it can be part of the treatment & if they started charging, patients would start finding food from elsewhere.

[Lavenders_Blue]

For example, in our local Hospital you order the night before for the next day. If you are discharged, then whoever gets the bed after you gets what you order. You wouldn't be able to do that if you were charging for the service.

 

Gosh what a peculiar system. What happens if the recipient of the meal you ordered is allergic to an ingredient? Or requires a halal/kosher/vegetarian (etc) meal? Or just plain hates what you have ordered?!

[C&T]

For example, in our local Hospital you order the night before for the next day. If you are discharged, then whoever gets the bed after you gets what you order. You wouldn't be able to do that if you were charging for the service.

 

Gosh what a peculiar system. What happens if the recipient of the meal you ordered is allergic to an ingredient? Or requires a halal/kosher/vegetarian (etc) meal? Or just plain hates what you have ordered?!

 

 

You should have tasted the dairy free porridge my predecessor ordered! Yuck!!!

 

But I would hope that they would have some spare food somewhere to allow for allergies/special requirements. I hope!!

[sadietoo]

For example, in our local Hospital you order the night before for the next day. If you are discharged, then whoever gets the bed after you gets what you order. You wouldn't be able to do that if you were charging for the service.

 

Gosh what a peculiar system. What happens if the recipient of the meal you ordered is allergic to an ingredient? Or requires a halal/kosher/vegetarian (etc) meal? Or just plain hates what you have ordered?!

 

I think the meat will probs be all Halal (it certainly is in the armed forces !)

 

I am slightly shocked that food isn't actually viewed as part of the recovery. for example, my poor old dad had but one tooth without his dentures, and when they went missing he wasn't given anything he could cope with....

 

I agree that those that can afford to pay, or provide their own food they should do so, (even if it is McD's because my guess is that many people aren't going to eat what's offered to them anyway) for those who can't or aren't able to because of some other reason, old age, confusion etc, they should not only be able to choose their food, and have it cooked to a high standard, but actually have some assistance with eating it ( too many visits to elderly people in hospital has left me with a lasting vision, of a poorly old soul with their food/drink, just out of reach, and no way of sitting up to eat it) . Bring back Matron!!!

[freddie]

My mum was in hospital for 12 weeks before she died. I took food every day, every meal. She was diabetic. The service was appalling, for all the patients, the food worse. I called a board meeting(threatened legal action) to get mum the pain relief she needed, and fed several ladies the food that had been left, out of reach for them, it was a stroke ward, so most were incapable of feeding themselves due to their stroke damage anyway. The general quality of the food was appalling, I wouldn't have eaten it, it looked vile, was luke warm and . well. disgusting.

I have no faith in the NHS whatsoever, as there are too many layers of management, and no where near enough nursing staff, The ones who are there are overworked, are expected to deal with agency staff, so no consistency,I feel so sorry for the trained nurses , as most are excellent, and take the brunt of it all. it's a real mess. If you get ill, hope a family member or friend will watch over you.