Hospital food is slowly improving

13 Feb 03
Jokes about hospital food could soon be as stale as the infamous British Rail sandwich after NHS meals were given a cautious thumbs-up by the Consumers' Association. The watchdog has surveyed trusts in England to assess the impact of the Department of

14 February 2003

Jokes about hospital food could soon be as stale as the infamous British Rail sandwich after NHS meals were given a cautious thumbs-up by the Consumers' Association.

The watchdog has surveyed trusts in England to assess the impact of the Department of Health's Better Hospital Food programme, launched in May 2001. In September 2001, the Audit Commission estimated that the NHS could save £8m by reducing food wastage.

The CA said most major hospitals had introduced recipes developed by celebrity chefs such as Loyd Grossman, though patients were wary of navarin of lamb with couscous, snacks twice a day and a 24-hour food service.

Catering managers told the CA that hospital food was now a higher priority for senior managers, though only 42% had received extra funding.

'Our survey shows that the programme is gradually helping to improve the reputation of hospital food,' a spokeswoman for the CA said.

PFfeb2003

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