NHS hospital food is so bad that 20 per cent of the staff would be unhappy to eat it and one in four patients asks relatives to bring in meals.

Patients 'revolted' by NHS food

Extract from the Observer article:

"Hospital food is so bad that 20 per cent of the staff would be unhappy to eat it and one in four patients asks relatives to bring in meals, according to a survey by the consumer organisation Which?

The new research reveals that some hospitals are offering many of the 13 million people admitted every year unhealthy food, portions that are too small and cold meals in the evening. Patients' other complaints include being served meals at inconvenient times and failure by hospitals to cater for people with special diets, such as diabetics and the overweight.

Michael Summers, a vice-chairman of the Patients' Association, said the quality of hospital food had improved until many hospitals began running up deficits. 'There had been quite a decent variety of food, people given menus the night before and the temperature of the food was taken. But cutbacks by hospitals have had a terrible effect,' said Summers. 'It's quite common now for hospital food to be sub-standard.'

Some of the 3,000 patients interviewed described the food they had been served as 'repulsive' or 'a disgrace'. One had been given a pie and chips despite struggling to drink because of tonsillitis; another was given sandwiches for dinner.

After interviewing 250 doctors, nurses and other NHS personnel, Which? also found that one in five hospital staff would turn their nose up at food served to patients. 'We are extremely concerned that hospital food is still of such poor quality that just a third of people feel they're getting the food they need to get better, and that one in four thinks it's so bad they have to make alternative arrangements,' said Clare Corbett, a health campaigner with Which?"

I found the meals provided while I was an in-patient in the Northern General Hospital Sheffield in the summer were very poor and I had to get friends to bring me in unsalted protein food and extra fruit. Most of the hospital meals were high in salt despite the Chief Dietician's claims to the contrary...)o:

Lose weight, reduce your risk of most cancers, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart, liver and kidney problems, and improve your health in many other ways without drugs or expense by eating less salt! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html (The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/steroids.html

http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/ami.html

vulnerable groups

How to Lose weight!

Children and Obesity

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

See Sodium in foods and

Associated health conditions and

http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/story.html - my 'political' page

Wider implications of the flawed theory that excess calorie intake causes obesity

I can be contacted via my website if you need my further help. My help is free.

Patients groups have criticised GPs over cost of phone calls

GPs criticised over pricy phone codes - Telegraph

Extracts:

"Patients groups have criticised GPs for switching their phone numbers to expensive 0844 dialling codes.

Although the phone numbers are not technically premium rate they are around four pence per minute more expensive than a standard local call.

Campaigners have called for an end to the practice saying it is unfair on elderly patients who can run up large bills calling their surgery regularly.

It is understood that 1,200 GP surgeries have switched to the new numbers and argue that it allows them to provide a better service.

Getting through on the telephone to GP practices can be extremely difficult as some surgeries operate a system where appointments can only be booked on the day, causing a rush of calls in the early morning.

However, the telcoms watchdog, Ofcom, has said it is not appropriate for public sector organisations to use the more expensive phone lines.

Joyce Robins, co-director of Patient Concern, said: “It is quite ridiculous. People should not pay more for their calls to their GP. I thought this had been stopped by the Government, but they have obviously found a loophole. "

"Two years ago the Department of Health banned the use of 0870 numbers in GP surgeries which are premium rate and cost 10 pence a minute to call. "

"But the Say No To 0870 campaign against chargeable numbers said that patients were put in a queue system when using the 0844 numbers which cost them money without talking to anyone.

And Michael Summers, chairman of the Patients Association said it was disgraceful and immoral to charge sick and vulnerable people more than necessary to call their GP practice.

He said: “It is a scandal. It is another way to extract money from the people who can least afford it. We have got excessive car park charges at hospital, bedside telephones and now this new one.

“These people are ill. These are not the people who should be targeted to have money extracted from them. It is immoral.”"


Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
How to Lose weight!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

See Sodium in foods and Associated health conditions

I can be contacted via my website if you need my further help. My help is free...