Patient Forums say  “Hospital food, Could you stomach it?”
- largest ever user survey shows that many trusts are still providing meals that are cold, unappetising and inedible

Hospital patients are still being provided with food that is not what they want, served at the wrong temperature, left because its unappetising and is being supplemented by food brought in by family and friends.

These are just some of the key findings of the Food Watch campaign, launched today by Patient and Public Involvement Forums following a national survey of over 2,200 patients. The survey, which looked at the cost, quality and availability of food and drink for inpatients, their visitors and outpatients, was initiated by patient comment and experiences.

PPI Forums worked together to produce a national picture and to substantiate many of the anecdotes that had been received by patient forums in their work with their local communities.

The Food Watch campaign discovered that:

·          Almost a half of patients (40%) had their hospital meals supplemented  by  food brought in by visitors (this went up to 42% in Community hospitals and 44% in Specialist hospitals)

·          Over a third of patients (37%) left their meal because it looked, smelt or  tasted unappetising

·         Over a quarter of patients (26%) are not receiving the help they need to eat their meals (this went up to almost a third in general hospitals)

·          Over 22% were given meals that were not warm enough or too hot

·       Almost a fifth of patients (18%) didn’t get the choice of meal they  wanted

Many of these findings contrast greatly to the recent Patient Environment Action Team results that appear to claim improvements in hospital food.

Sharon Grant, Chair of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health that helped to coordinate the campaign commented:

“These findings are disappointing. Patients have every right to expect food that is nutritious, served at the appropriate temperature, meets their dietary needs and help to eat if they need it. Proper nutrition is essential to recovery both physically and psychologically, Food should be of good quality and enjoyable – if it’s not it won’t be eaten and this seems to be borne out by the findings. Not only will this impact upon a patient’s recovery, but is a huge waste in terms of NHS money and resources. An additional concern is the strain and cost for relatives who feel obliged to bring in substitute meals.

For many, choice is just a word and getting the meal you want at the right temperature is more like first come first served”.

Patient Forums were shocked by the comments made to them by patients who were obviously not receiving the type of decent meal that would help them on their road to recovery. >From nursing mothers to the elderly, Forum members were being told that on many occasions that a patient’s diet was being supplemented by family and friends. Not just to give patients a treat, but because they were unable to eat what they were given.

However, in sharp contrast, the survey also highlighted a few Trusts that seems to be giving patients both what they wanted and needed. For example the Royal Brompton Hospital has a policy to source their food organically, and they received significant praise from patients.

Clearly patients surveyed seem to be asking for:
·       protected meal times
·       a menu – there were too many incidences where there is no menu at all
·       frequent changes in menu – especially for those in long- term care
·       national standards
·       fresh food, prepared and presented to encourage and satisfy appetite, recuperation and dietary needs
·       choice – for all patients and not just for those first in the queue
·       meals served at the correct temperature

Sharon Grant concluded:
 
“Clearly, the findings do show that some Trusts can get it right – or at least almost right. The Trusts that are getting it very badly wrong need to learn from those who are succeeding in meeting patients needs – and they need to start doing it now! Hospital food has been subjected to more initiatives than it tries to provide hot dinners. But it still remains a joke. Patients aren’t laughing and it’s about time NHS and Foundation Trusts found the right punch line!

In 2001 the government looked at how hospital food services could be improved and the Better Hospital Food Programme was launched. However it was disbanded early this year - these results show that this programme may not have improved anything at all despite almost £40 million pounds of Government investment.

We will be sending the results of the survey to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health in the hope that she can do for hospital food, what Jamie Oliver did for school meals.”

As well as surveying inpatients, PPI Forums also undertook to investigate what facilities are provided to inpatients and hospital visitors. These can be found in the Food watch Report.

For further information and copy of the full report contact Karen Leech, Head of Communications on 0191 448 4303 or Sharon Hinds Davis, National Communications Lead on 0121 222 4538.

A sample of the comments, that can be found in the main report, include:

Comments on menu

“I am nearly blind and cannot see the menu easily and do not receive help”, Female 60-74, Mental Health Unit, South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

“Patients do not get to see a menu, it is read by the housekeeper. When the food trolley comes – if you’re at the end of the ward – you do not get your choice.” Female 45-59, Dewsbury Ward, General Hospital Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Comments on Choice

“Menu needs to include more vegetarian choice. Have to go to Asda for more variation in diet”. Male 30-44, Mental Health Unit, South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

“Why mince three days on the trot!”, General Hospital , Wirral NHS Trust

“When you come in you get what is left on the first day, sometimes what someone else has chosen. You should be able to get your own choice on the first day.” Male 75+ General Hospital , Newcastle NHS Foundation Trust

Comments on time allowed for eating

“Got the impression you should eat as quickly as possible. This morning while I was eating my breakfast the surgeon came and was looking at my wound whilst I was eating.” (Male, General Hospital , Newcastle NHS Foundation Trust

“Meal times are too early. Teatime should be at 6pm instead of 4pm , don’t feel like eating then. Male 19-29 Mental Health Unit, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust

Comments on Help with Eating

“Sometimes not enough staff for amount of patients who need help”. Female 75+ Elderly care, North Staffs Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

“Only for a short time, not full meals, nursing staff too busy. Not enough time given or liquids, given two spoonfuls of food and then left.” Female 60-74, Pinderfields Ward, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Comments on quality, taste, nutrition of meals

“”very, very poor scrambled eggs, thought to be powdered. Very bland breaded fish, grey in colour, not appetising. Patient existed on desserts. Female 75+ General Hospital Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

“The quality of food was poor - soup very thin and liquid (why it had different names I don't know. They all tasted the same). Catering is clearly done on a low cost budget. A very small increase in budget should allow for high quality foods to be served. This would certainly be the case in respect of soups, ice cream and other sweets. The catering department could also pay more attention to the dietary needs of patients particularly when ordered items are not available. They should also understand that presentation of food is an important aspect.” Male, 60-74 John Radcliffe Hospital , Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust

“Quality – rubbish – looks disgusting” Female, 60-74, Diana Princess of Wales Hospital , North Lincolnshire 7 Goole Hospitals NHS Trust

“Disgusting, vile, nasty, sloppy, piggish” Female 19-29 Mental Health Unit, Charing Cross Hospital , West London Mental Health NHS Trust

Comments on leaving food because it looked, smelt or tasted unappetising

“Dollops of food on plate. When feeling queasy one needs appetising meals.” Female, 75+ Elderly care, North Staffs Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

 “Food (main courses) smelt awful and tasted worse - caused me to vomit on three occasions. Ice-cream was of very poor quality.”  Male, 60-74, John Radcliffe Hospital , Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust

Comments on temperature of food

“Only problem, all courses served simultaneously” Female 60-74, Derriford Hospital , Plymouth Hospitals Trust

“Generally not hot enough.” Male, 19-29 Ealing Hospital

“Not always hot when you sit down, and then you are offered sandwiches if your food is cold.” Male 60-74, Mental Health Unit, North Staffs Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

Comments on Menu changes

“Not changed in five weeks” Male, 60-74 General hospital, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

“Has not changed in four years”.  Male” 75+ Hammersmith Hospital

“Never”, Male 60-74 Derriford Hospital , Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

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Danny Anderson
National Communications Lead
0113 227 2414 or Ex 72414
______________________________________
Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
Nelson House
George Mann Road
Leeds LS10 1DJ

 (17/10/06)