"Food quality"

Dear kat59

Thank you for taking the time to post on Patient Opinion. I am very sorry that the food you received in the QEUH as in inpatient was of such poor standard and that the portion size was too small. This is not the standard of food that any of our patients should receive.

Our catering team have been making improvements to the food provided to patients in our hospitals and this process has involved both patients and the public. However I do appreciate that your experience was a particularly negative one and I will ask my Facilities colleagues to explain a little more on this forum about those improvements and how your feedback will be used.

Best wishes

Lisa

Dear Kat59

We are sorry that you found the food not to your liking whilst in hospital. We have been working very hard to ensure that all of our patients have a good meal experience. We cook the majority of your meals within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde while some items such as sandwiches are bought in from nationally contracted suppliers.

We operate a two week menu cycle allowing us to offer you a combination of traditional main meals and lighter snack meals at lunch and evening meal along with a continental style breakfast.

All of our meals have been nutritionally analysed by a dietitian. We cater for a wide range of ages, from children to the very oldest of our population, and for people with conditions that require special diets. We can offer larger portions if people prefer that.

In the kitchens, our chefs follow tried and tested standard recipes to ensure that our dishes are prepared and produced exactly the same way each and every time. However, our chefs are always looking for ways to improve our food and recently they have been working with a development chef who has advised us on some recipes and different cooking methods. Following this exercise, we have created some new recipes and adapted some of current favourites to improve the overall quality of our meals.

To test our recipes, we have been holding tasting roadshows around our hospitals sites allowing members of the public, patients and staff a chance to try out our food. The feedback we have had has been excellent.

It is a shame that we did not know how you felt about the food at the time as one of our catering team would have visited you to try and make your experience a better one. It is important for your recovery to eat well in hospital and I am sorry that on this occasion we missed an opportunity to make things better for you. Feedback can be given to ward staff or it can be given via our website.

Please have a look at our website to view how we make your meals and how we can make your experience better if there is ever a next time.

http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/patients-and-visitors/information-for-patients/food-in-hospital/

Best wishes

Mandy Machell, Facilities Project Manager