Wife’s anger as hospital staff ‘couldn’t cater’ for husband
DIET OF BOILED POTATOES, CHICKEN, RICE AND FISH WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON WARD
A TEESSIDE woman has told of her “anger and frustration” after she had to cook meals for her husband and take them into his hospital ward after staff told them the special diet he needed “could not be catered for”.
David Hodgson, from Redcar, was admitted to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for an MRI scan appointment last weekend.
He was told he needed to eat a low residue diet – consisting of plain food such as boiled potatoes, rice, chicken, fish and white bread – for the type of examination he needed.
But, said his wife Linda, after meeting with someone from the kitchen staff and a hospital dietician, the retired civil engineer was told they “could not supply this diet and he should follow a low fibre one instead”.
When it was time to have the scan, David was told it could not go ahead because he had been following the wrong type of diet and it was cancelled.
Another scan appointment was made for four days later, Tuesday, March 21, and since then Linda has been cooking his food at their Redcar home and taking it in to the ward for him so the scan could go ahead.
“After meeting with someone from the kitchen staff and a dietician from the hospital he was told they could not supply this diet and should just follow a low fibre diet,” said Linda, 72.
“On the day of the MRI he was told he had been following the wrong diet and the MRI was cancelled.
“This was then rescheduled for four days later, Tuesday March 21. This has only been able to go ahead as I personally cooked the special diet food at home and took it into the hospital – so this is another four days of taking up a much needed hospital bed and a further four days of delayed treatment.
“My husband cannot be the first person to have come across this serious problem.
“I cannot tell you how angry and frustrated I felt as it was probably one of the easiest diets to provide.”
David 64, had a bowel operation last year and started to feel poorly again earlier this month.
He has lost more than two stone in weight and his medical team decided further investigation was needed and the scan was arranged, said Linda.
The family is now waiting for the results.
Linda said she feels frustrated at
I cannot tell you how angry and frustrated I felt as it was probably one of the easiest diets to provide.
Linda Hodgson
the fact he has had to spend another four days in hospital taking up a bed and also pushing back any potential diagnosis. “
“A low residue diet consists of things like fish, chicken, boiled potatoes and rice – it isn’t hard and is one of the easiest recipes to follow, it is just plain food,” she said.
“I came home, bought some fish, chicken and white bread and I also took a ready cooked packet of rice in.” Linda added that she has contacted Serco, which runs the catering service at the hospital, but has had no response.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs James Cook University Hospital, said: “Our ward staff, catering team and dietitians work closely to make sure patients receive nutritious hospital food that is tailored to their individual needs, including special diets.
“If patients have any concerns or queries, we advise them to speak to their ward manager or contact our patient experience team on 01642 854807.”
A Serco spokesman said: “We provide a balanced and varied menu designed to meet all the medical, cultural and dietary needs of patients which is agreed and signed off by the trust.”