The issue of hospital food and meal options for staff members is set to be discussed at UNISON’s annual health conference later this week (April 8th), with research released to mark the occasion revealing that over half of hospital staff in England say they wouldn’t eat what is being served to patients because it’s of poor quality and unhealthy.
Some 50 per cent said they thought the meals were not of good quality, nor were they nutritious. Another big concern was the lack of healthy and inexpensive food, with 32 per cent saying that vending machines contained no nutritious snacks.
And despite the fact that 32 per cent of NHS staff work shifts, the study also found that healthier foods like (vegetables, fruit and low fat and low sugar options) were difficult to find at night.
Sara Gorton, head of health with the union, said: “Everyone in hospitals including staff, patients and visitors deserves healthy food that’s reasonably priced. Patients who are ill need nutritious and appealing meals to help them recover. Busy staff also need nourishing choices and proper breaks so they can recharge on hectic shifts.
“The NHS is failing in its responsibility to look after the wellbeing of its employees. Healthy options should be made available 24 hours a day and better food standards enforced.”
In addition, 12 per cent of staff members surveyed said they had no access to free drinking water, while 28 per cent said they were unable to buy food suitable for their religion or diet, such as halal or vegetarian options.
And of those who brought their own food in from home, 40 per cent said that preparation facilities like kitchens and microwaves fell short, rating them as bad. And 26 per cent said they had no dedicated place in which to eat food.
A Yougov Hospital Catering report published back in 2015 did find that 39 per cent of NHS patients or visitors agreed that the food was very good considering it was free. But 43 per cent also said that the meals weren’t tasty and 62 per cent said they should be more nutritious.
Interestingly, 33 per cent said that they thought the quality of the food in private hospitals was a lot better than in NHS sites. The most popular words associated with the meals found in NHS hospitals were ‘cheap’, ‘processed’ and ‘unappetising’, while private hospital users were more likely to describe meals as ‘tasty’, ‘healthy’ and well balanced’.
As for the staff, 64 per cent said that they preferred to bring their own food into work, with just 16 per cent saying that they find the hospital canteen, supplied by contract catering companies, an enjoyable place in which to eat.