Christmas in hospital gives food for thought

IT’S not often hospital meals are looked forward to with relish, but tomorrow a veritable five-star menu will be on offer for those unfortunate enough to be ill this year.

In an attempt to make the Christmas hospital stay bearable for inpatients at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork, staff at the facility are planning a major revamp of the traditional hospital food.

As families across the country tuck into their turkey, stuffing and ham on December 25, almost 200 patients and dozens more staff will be sitting down for a similar meal at the facility.

Among the complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening meals on offer at the hospital will be fresh roast turkey with honey baked ham, roast potatoes and Christmas pudding, helping to remove the fear of being sick during the holidays.

Unfortunately, due to the seriousness of some patients’ conditions, the lavish food on offer will not be available to approximately 60% of patients.

However, in the true Christmas spirit an alternative menu based on nutritional care diets, special diets, low residue and soft diets will be made available.

This will include soft-cooked pasta shells with a choice of sauces, fish, shepherds pie and cottage cheese, in addition to a range of healthy seasonal deserts.

“A lot of our patients who are in on Christmas Day are very ill, and they will have special dietary requirements,” explained Michael Mulry, catering manager at the Mercy University Hospital.

“It’s very important to try and make the day as special as we can for them, because if they had the choice they wouldn’t be in hospital over the holiday.

“A special meal will also be prepared for the staff who are working over Christmas, which is what we normally do for them.

“Not all of the patients will be able to have some of the food on the menu, but we are making sure they won’t be missing out on a Christmas meal,” he added.