Patient orders in pizza because hospital food choice so poor

PATIENT Lee West was so fed up of hospital food he had a pizza delivered to his ward.

The 35-year-old, pictured, was admitted to Ward 19 at the North Staffs Royal Infirmary, suffering from severe back pain on September 25.

Until he was discharged on Wednesday, he was served a cold breakfast and a cooked lunch, which he says were passable, but his problem lay with the evening meals.

Mr West, of Churchfields Avenue, Dresden, said: "On the evening menu, you get a choice of two different types of sandwiches. Usually one of them was a processed cheese sandwich, then a packet of crisps, piece of fruit or a yoghurt. That's not a proper evening meal for an adult."

When Mr West complained to catering staff on the ward, he was told meal choices were out of their hands and down to food supplier Sodexo.

After the firm began its contract with the University Hospital of North Staffordshire last August, many patients complained about the quality of the food, which is cooked in South Wales and driven to Hartshill.

One evening, Mr West spent £15 on food from Newcastle's Domino's Pizza.

He said: "Staff on Ward 19 were absolutely fabulous, but the food wasn't. They would make toast if you were really hungry, but that wasn't enough either.

"I spent £15 on a Domino's and people were gob-smacked that I felt the need to do it, but I need something warm at night. They brought it right up to my bed, and it was warmer than hospital food."

Mr West, who works as a lorry driver, added: "There was a lad in there who I only saw eat hospital food twice. His mum was bringing him a KFC or McDonald's every day."

Ben Sandy, franchisee of three Domino's outlets, including Newcastle, said: "It is not unheard of for people to ring asking us to deliver food to the hospital. We deliver up there fairly regularly."

The number of complaints about food at the hospital is not currently reported to the trust's board.

Kevin Holliday, the hospital's catering manager, said: "Mr West was referred to the catering department and was subsequently visited by the assistant catering manager where his issues with the food were discussed.

"From that meeting, further meal options where made available to Mr West, which included hot choices for the evening meal and hot breakfasts."

Nick Micholau, manager of Hartshill Chippy, in Hartshill Road near the hospital, said: "We get many people coming in and saying they are purchasing food for friends or relatives inside the hospital."

Read more about the hospital food row

I'm cheesed off with hospital food

Hospital porters' helping hand

Praise for NHS staff