Fresh food is basic

THE Irish Mail On Sunday has learned that patients in some of our hospitals are served meals that cost, on average, less than those prisoners in some jails get.

Almost all hospitals employ a cook-chill method, where meals are prepared, frozen and later microwaved, with a consequent depreciation in nutritional value. All prisons and a handful of hospitals cook and serve fresh food. That must become the gold standard everywhere. Recovery from illness depends on medication, rest and nutrition. Serving patients meals that cost less than €1 each is completely unacceptable.