Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith calls for healthy food 24/7 in hospitals
PM Boris Johnson recruited Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith to participate. The Government has said it will establish an expert group of NHS caterers, dietitians and nurses to decide on next steps
Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith says hospital food can be “delicious, nutritious and nicely presented” on a budget, after leading a review into meals for patients and staff.
An independent review published on Monday will recommend digital menus and upgraded kitchens providing a 24/7 service as they set out ways to improve the safety and nutrition of hospital food.
The review was launched following a deadly outbreak of listeriosis in hospitals last year linked to pre-packaged sandwiches and salads. PM Boris Johnson recruited Prue to participate.
The Government has said it will establish an expert group of NHS caterers, dietitians and nurses to decide on next steps.
Prue, 80, said: “The review provides best-in-class examples of how hospitals can serve delicious, nutritious and nicely presented meals on a budget.
“Food is not only important to health, but to morale. Hospital mealtimes should be a moment of enjoyment and a pleasure to serve. They should inspire staff, patients and visitors to eat well at home.”
She previously described hospital food as “inedible” and “unidentifiable grey mush”.
Over the weekend, writing for the Sunday Telegraph, Prue wrote that “39 per cent of patients were unhappy with the quality of the food they were given” and “many staff on night shifts are eating unhealthy food from vending machines”.
She also said they found some hospitals producing “first rate hospital meals”, which she admitted was “to [her] surprise”.
In 2017, she criticised the culinary facilities, saying: “All the staff do is reheat frozen meals and lay trays with difficult-to-undo packs of cutlery, sweaty squares of cheese, cheap biscuits and dabs of marge.”
Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of Leon Restaurants and independent lead on the National Food Strategy, said hospitals must be a “guiding light” in efforts to “get to grips with the slow-motion disaster that is the British diet”.
Recommendations include upgraded kitchens which can cater for a wide range of needs from new mothers in a maternity ward, to patients hungry after a long fast due to surgery, and staff working overnight.
The review also said digital menus and food ordering systems taking into account a patient’s needs could improve communication between dietitians and caterers, reduce food waste and provide patients with the right food for recovery.
An agreed set of national professional standards for NHS chefs with mandatory professional development, including appropriate compulsory food hygiene and allergen training, was also recommended.
The report said increasing the role of nurses, dietitians, caterers and staff wellbeing leads in overseeing food services could help to ensure nutritious meals are part of a patient’s recovery plan.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This impressive report shows the way to good hospital food for all - patients, staff and visitors.
“Across the NHS and in the 40 new hospitals we are set to build I want to ensure - with Prue’s help - that we deliver really good hospital food.
“Alongside our new obesity strategy to improve the nation’s diet, the NHS is leading by example when it comes to public health.”
MirrorCeleb