MUM FED ONLY SOUP AND CUSTARD IN HOSPITAL ‘WASTED AWAY’
Son slams food given to OAP
THE son of an elderly woman who died in a Glasgow hospital says her weight plummeted after being offered only soup and custard for days on end.
James McIntyre said the 86-year-old “wasted away” after being admitted with a broken collar bone.
The city’s health board said it plans to increase the range of meals available for patients on restricted diets.
A SON says his mother “wasted away” in a Glasgow hospital after being given only soup and cold custard while she was being treated.
James McIntyre’s mother, Agnes, died just over a month after being admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary with a broken collar bone.
She suffered from Dysphagia – difficulty swallowing – and the hospital’s speech and language department prescribed a Texture B diet, which means all food is blended.
Mr McIntyre said he was given a menu of the food his mother would be offered, which included cottage pie, macaroni pie and other main courses.
But he says the 86-year-old was given only soup, yoghurt and cold custard, for almost two weeks, before she became too unwell to eat.
He said his mother lost interest in eating and her weight plummeted and her health declined.
She developed pneumonia and did not recover and died in early December, after being admitted on October 30.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it was investigating the case but said it hopes to expand the range of food available for patients who require Texture B diets.
Mr McIntyre, 70, who lives in Tollcross, in the city’s East End, said: “The speech and language staff showed me the food she would be getting, and it was things like cottage pie and macaroni pie.
“But she was only given what looked like Campbell’s soup, yoghurt or cold custard. I was waiting for her to be given her main meal. When I queried it, they said the external caterers couldn’t provide anything else.
“I know the dietician was unhappy it wasn’t a proper Texture B diet. I asked my mother why she wasn’t eating it and she said it was horrible. I tasted it and it was vile.”
Mr McIntyre believes poor nutrition left his mother vulnerable to infection. He said: “When she got the pneumonia, she didn’t have the strength to fight it.”
A health board spokeswoman said: “We were very sorry to hear Mr McIntyre was unhappy with the treatment his mother received.
“There are a range of meals available within this but it is hoped more can be developed through our dedicated Food, Fluid and Nutrition group.
“Patients who are found to have additional nutritional needs are fully assessed on admission to our hospitals and their special diets are closely monitored by ward staff.
“We are dealing with Mr McIntyre’s complaint and will soon be in touch with him.”