HOSPITAL PATIENT HITS OUT AFTER BEING SERVED 'FROZEN EGGS' AND 'RAW POTATOES' FOR DINNER

A hospital trust has apologised to a patient who complained she was served “unacceptable frozen” food.

Pam Thomson, from Cockenzie, East Lothian, has been in Royal Infirmary Edinburgh for three days and is currently on oxygen. However she has been left unimpressed by the meals so far served to her, and says others on her ward have made similar complaints.

Pam, 49, told EdinburghLive : “I don’t think this is acceptable. I wasn’t given anything for dinner as they placed a tray in front of me with frozen eggs.

“I refused to eat and asked for a sandwich but they had none on the ward. I’ve even been given raw baked potatoes. An elderly lady next to me who is 87 has also been served custard like water. I have asked to speak to the clinical director of the ward.

“Others in our ward have said they have had cold dinners over the course of four weeks. Patients have told me they are barely eating due to the state of the food.

“The staff aren't really bothered. I did ask them if they would feed this to their mother or granny but the nurse just looked at me. I have been in touch with the NHS complaints department.”

After complaining, Pam said the catering manager had come to personally apologise to her. However, the food has not improved. She added: “This has made me feel really sad for the older dears.

“Some of them have no family to bring them anything to eat for them. The catering manager came and spoke with me today and she apologised and said she will be speaking to her staff.

“My dad travelled all the way up so he could make sure I had something to eat as I didn't have anything the night before as there was nothing to offer apart from crackers. One of the other patients had sprouts bouncing off her plate. They were that hard.”

Morag Campbell, director of estates and facilities, NHS Lothian, said: “We work with a team of catering experts and dietitians to ensure our inpatient meals are fresh, nutritious and tasty. Catering at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is provided by our PFI provider and we apologise to any patient whose experience has fallen below our high standards.

“Our catering strategy recognises the importance of good nutrition in patient care and would ask any patients who have a concern or complaint about their meals to raise these immediately with the person in charge of their care to ensure they are offered an alternative.”

2024-07-05T12:39:33Z dg43tfdfdgfd