14:28 2022-05-26
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_ NHS staff say they often go WITHOUT food because canteens are 'too busy' and 'too expensive'
_ NHS staff say they often go WITHOUT food because canteens are 'too busy' and 'too expensive'
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Earlier this month, one doctor, who campaigns for better food for staff in hospitals, complained about the price of a simple pasta meal - £7.25 - offered to staff at a
The post sparked some to compare prices with those in the House of Commons Members' Dining Room, where a gourmet roast rump of beef dinner - served with chateau potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and seasonal vegetables - currently costs just £5.67.
Podiatrist Neely Mozawala, who founded the No Hungry Staff campaign, highlighted that a portion of macaroni cheese, which is served with a meat topping, at North Middlesex Hospital's The Wellspring Restaurant appeared marked up way beyond the cost of its ingredients.
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She wrote: 'An NHS Trust in London charging £7.25 for macaroni cheese?'
The post sparked a flurry of comparisons to how MPs dine in the House of Commons, with all of the main meals currently on offer to politicians on the spring menu priced at £6.41.
Dishes include Korean spiced aubergine with chive polenta, charred green onions, and coconut yoghurt, and deep fried haddock with pale ale batter, thick cut chips, mushy peas, tartar sauce and malt vinegar sea salt.
Three desserts on the list, including the dish of vanilla brûlée, macerated strawberries and crisp meringue, are priced at £2.37.
MailOnline has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England for comment.
A House of Commons spokesperson told Femail that prices for meals in Westminster's restaurants are 'competitive' with nearby restaurants, saying: 'Catering services at Parliament are not subsidised.
'Our food and drink prices are regularly benchmarked with venues outside Parliament, and the catering service continuously seeks to reduce costs.'
A spokesperson from North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust said: 'One of our key priorities here at North Mid is looking after our staff and patients – their health and wellbeing is always at the forefront of our minds. The food and products offered in our hospital’s onsite restaurant (The Wellspring Restaurant) are provided by an external supplier.
'Although we regularly liaise with them with regards to the quality and variety of the food, together we are reviewing the issues raised. Staff purchasing hot food from our restaurant are entitled to a 20% discount and we also offer alternative provisions for food and drink on site.'
This week, the latest social media discussion on how NHS staff access food services while at work centres on how canteens are often too busy at peak hours to cater adaquately, yet turning up at off-peak hours can see NHS workers turned away.
One hospital worker, @_Doctor_Dom, played out a recent experience, saying he wasn't allowed lunch despite lunch dishes being displayed because it was 'too early', he was told.
When he told restaurant staff that he needed to be in theatre at 12, they suggested he had 'a sandwich'.
Those responding shared their own experiences of similar inflexibility.
@cfraz172 wrote: 'Missed breakfast, got to canteen at 1137 (10 minute return walk out of 30 min break) no hot food. Wouldn’t serve as not 1145. Not fit for purpose.'
@DocFizzabella added: 'Once I had v busy oncall so didn't manage 2 grab lunch. Finally got 2 canteen, asked 4 cheese toastie & right in front of me the guy turned around switched off toastie machine & said have to turn it off @ 7pm - was 6.58!! Nearly cried on spot.'
@cywbawdder said hospital restaurants are often oblivious to the round-the-clock care NHS staff provide. He said: 'The problem is most are private franchise and decide to have limited hours of opening. Sadly they don't understand 24 hrs hospital service and a little flexibility?'
@DrWJL raged: 'This is how the NHS treats its staff. Yes, it's clearly near to shutting up shop time.. but WHY has no NHS manager realised that this sort of unpredictable thing often happens when you're caring for sick people, and then created a helpful response?'
Patients don't fare much better; the NHS wasted £1.1million throwing away more than 6,500 tons of food last year, official figures released in December revealed.
And data suggests the total for this financial year could be even higher – prompting Bake Off judge Prue Leith, who led a review of hospital food, to warn of a 'mountain to climb'.
So far 1,146 tons have been wasted in 38 of 217 NHS trusts, meaning 2021/22 will probably eclipse the 2020/21 figure.
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