Reporter Mark Sparrow writes about his experience making The Truth About Hospital Food for Dispatches.
Hospital food has been the staple diet of stand-up comics for years, but if you ever find yourself in hospital for an extended stay, you'll soon realise that it's no laughing matter.
When I spent 10 weeks in traction, just over a year ago, I managed to cope with the appalling food by blogging about it. My blogging journey started with a generous helping of humour even though I was quite ill. Fortunately, I was strong minded enough to survive on a diet of sloppy custard, rock-hard sponge and seriously revolting dishes, many of which were unrecognisable. And when I couldn't stomach the meals I was being served, I survived by nibbling biscuits I'd stockpiled and by drinking disgusting nutrition shakes.
Fortunately, at no point was I in danger of starving as I had a tongue in my head and my wits about me. Sadly that isn't always the case for some of the most vulnerable patients being treated by the NHS, patients such as the elderly or those who suffer from cystic fibrosis and other chronic conditions.
Obviously, many people can speak up for themselves or ask family to supplement their hospital rations, but others are in danger of suffering malnutrition and neglect because they may not feel confident enough to complain about the food or to ask for help with feeding.
Many patients don't want to complain for fear of reprisals from staff. They are concerned they will be labelled a nuisance, so they keep their mouths shut. I've lost count of the number of sons and daughters of elderly patients who have complained to me about their parents not being fed or being left with their food tray just out of reach. Answers from staff when challenged vary from 'we're understaffed' to the incredible 'we're not paid to feed people'.
A significant number of elderly and vulnerable patients can't always speak up for themselves, so their basic needs of food, sanitation and kindness are sometimes not being met in some of our hospitals.
While nurses busy themselves collating statistics for hospital managers, frail and sick patients in some hospitals are left with inadequate nutrition at a time when they need it most. There are graduate nurses who give the impression that they're far too educated to be bothered with routine chores such as feeding their charges, emptying bedpans or helping with washing and personal care .
So why should we care about hospital food? Well, you may be lucky and never end up in hospital relying on poor food to keep you going. But what if your luck changes - and you find yourself too ill or old to stand up for your rights or make yourself heard? I think it's high time the NHS gives patients the diet and dignity we'd wish for ourselves.
