Hospital: Some patient food ‘is unacceptable’

A leading maternity hospital is reviewing the quality of food it gives mothers after admitting some patient meals are “unacceptable”.

The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital made the move after images of meals there were posted online.

One dish — of badly burned potato wedges, a splash of ketchup and a sausage roll — provoked a furious reaction when revealed by broadsheet.ie late last week.

And, coming after an Irish Examiner investigation last year found hospitals are spending as little as €2.03c on ingredients for each patient meal, the Coombe accepted the issue needs to be examined.

“We would like to thank you for drawing our attention to this issue, which is unacceptable,” said a spokesperson for the hospital, which oversees thousands of births a year.

“The hospital prepares and serves food for our patients in accordance with the Department of Health guidelines. Patients are offered a healthier option at each meal time, usually a salad. In light of the query, however, we are undergoing a review of our menu and will look to improve the choices we offer.”

Yesterday, broadsheet.ie published another photograph — this time of an “unknown meal” at St Vincent’s Hospital. The facility said it “strives” to meet “nutritional needs” and welcomes patient responses “at ward level”.

Freedom of Information documents obtained by this newspaper last summer show hospital patient meal spend has fallen from €30.5m in 2008 to €24.7m in 2011 - with average costs at €2.33c.