November 17, 2008
Disparities in the quality of hospital food
It seems that the funding system for health care in the UK has lead to disparities in the type and quality of hospital food.
From the Mirror:
In certain parts of the country, patients are tucking into tasty chicken chasseur and beef madras to aid their road to recovery. But elsewhere they have to make do with tasteless mash and soggy veg.
The amount being spent on hospital food in the UK ranges from $2.91 U.S. per patient per day to $24.15 U.S. with the average being $10.62 U.S. (1 British Pound = 1.49 U.S. Dollar.)
Of course, not all of the NHS money has been spent on actual food - they have attempted to improve quality by hiring a famous TV chef.
The NHS hired TV chef Loyd Grossman in 2001 to spice up hospital menus in a £40million revamp, but the Government's Better Hospital Food Programme was scrapped five years later.
Note: x-rates.com was used for currency conversion.
Posted by David Porter at 10:00 AM
Category: Health Disparities; Health Inequities; Hospital Food; Nutrition