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Breaking stories
Hospital food is bad for your health
Hospital food is bad for your health, one of the country’s leading consultants has warned.
By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
Dr Anthony O’Connor, consultant gastroenterologist at St James’s Hospital, criticised the serving of deep-fried meals, chips, and sausages to patients with heart problems and other serious conditions. He said if smoking could be banned in hospitals, a similar ban on fried food should be considered.
Dr O’Connor also called for a Jamie Oliver-style reform of hospital menus which he said were potentially damaging already sick peoples’ health.
Speaking after the Irish Medical Organisation’s annual general meeting, the leading physician said he was constantly reminded of the problem whenever a ward round took place during meal time.
And, while patients may balk at the thought of their most loved comfort foods being taken away just when they are at their lowest ebb, Dr O’Connor said without adopting new eating habits, they could be facing a far worse outcome than a mere change in diet.
“The standard of food is something that came to me when my father was admitted with angina in the ’90s. Just after the nutritionist had been with him, the food came to him and it was sausages, chips, bacon, and lots of salt.
“I still see it when I’m going around doing my rounds today. I don’t know why it’s the case, to be honest, but cost might be a factor,” he said.
“Healthy foods might cost more, but it occurs to me that if Jamie Oliver could do it for schools, there might be a need for something similar for hospitals.”
While Dr O’Connor said the issue should be discussed with patient advocacy groups before any changes took place, he said the measure could form a key part of improving patient health.
“The main thing for me, the main thing for a doctor, is that when you are in hospital, it is a good time to reinforce healthy habits and a healthy diet. We don’t allow smoking in hospitals, so why do we allow deep-fried food?”
The plan was originally due to be discussed by senior medics at the IMO’s annual general meeting last weekend as part of obesity tackling measures.
Among the other possible steps were the banning of transfats from production or sale in Ireland and proposals to introduce Leaving Certificate points for PE classes at secondary school.
A Department of Health spokesperson said hospital menus were planned by trained personnel in order to meet the general nutritional standards and requirements”.
“Specific dietetic requirements are planned in conjunction with the relevant professional, and the department intends to publish healthy eating guidelines in the coming months,” she said, adding that the HSE also has a number of initiatives to address the issue.
Meanwhile, research from the Irish Sports Council shows people are now more active more often.
In 2003, 29.8% of the population participated weekly in sport, compared to 33.5% in 2009.
Research also shows more women are playing sport now than was the case in 2003.
The council’s chief executive, John Treacy, said 70% more men than women participated in sport in 2003 — the figure was 53% in 2009, with the provisional 2011 rate standing at 29%.
Mr Treacy also revealed that the gap between employed and unemployed people regarding sports participation has also closed in recent years.
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