I was in hospital in Dublin a year ago. Everything was marvellous – apart from the food.
I don't think I ate anything that wasn't brought in to me by friends and family. In an age when cooking programmes are wall to wall on TV, you would think they could do better than 1950s school dinner-type meals and menus, but sadly they can't.
– Bill Heaney on Facebook
St James’s hospital A&E. Seen and awaiting bed 11.30am. 3.30pm given sandwich and tea. 8.30pm admitted to ward, given yogurt, small piece of cheese and three crackers.
Fasting from midnight. Next day brought to ward following operation, missed lunch, had to wait until tea, only food left – greasy spring rolls.
When I declined, the server said, "Quite right love, I would not touch them myself."
– Victoria Somers via email
Relatives are forced to ferry in food , pay expensive parking fees and tickets, travel in all weathers , when there is a private commercial enterprise, commissioned and paid by the HSE for the State, to provide hospital food for every kind of patient. There is also a paid nutritionist who is supposed to advocate for the patients' needs . They don't seem to have much sway to do so.
– Julianna Kenny
My only experience of hospital food has been in the Coombe, thank God. With regard to that, the problem is not so much the taste but the fact that you get your 'tea' at 4.30 in the afternoon and not another bite until your breakfast at 8.30 the next morning. Talk about helping you get your figure back.
– Áine Crotty on Facebook
Dinner in Tallaght hospital in April (left) – food is always over cooked and welded to the plate at times. I always eat it – except for Brussels sprouts which are no fun at Christmas and definitely no fun in March/April.
There's a complete lack of imagination in hospital food. Guess it's all down to cost.
– Brenda Drumm via email
