"Hospital food"

I have been an inpatient in 10 West in 2017 and 2020 for Chemotherapy and past Stem Cell transplant.

The medical care and nursing care is top quality and I believe the teams need congratulations. 

I do think the windows need cleaning urgently so bedridden residents have a clear view.

In my opinion, the major problem is the food:

The top 6 options on the menu come floating in fluid. I believe it is tasteless and the vegetables are soft or tough in the centre - not crisp and fresh. On trying several roast dinners the meat, I felt they tasted like cardboard. One serving had 5 layers of roast lamb piled on top of each other covering half the plate.  I have tried 5 different options in 2020 and in my opinion, the quality is extremely poor and that the same major issue existed in 2017.

Many of the 6 top options come sealed, and I think are often too hot and steamy. I believe these options place the frail and sick at risk when opening them due to risk of burns. I think the soup also needs to be checked to ensure it is of a reasonable standard. 

Patients have different appetites. In my experience, the top 6 options completely cover the plate, the mashed potato swims in fluid and spreads out across the plate. In my opinion, the presentation of the top 6 item choices is extremely poor. 

I have some major recommendations:

- Ensure the present supplier is not used, especially when the new building opens

- Offer small, medium and large meals

- Reduce the number of choices so that the catering is able to be managed

- Ensure the food is nutritious and do a complete audit of the nutritional value on delivery to 10W.

- Presentation of the food to encourage ill residents to eat

- Large sample audit of food to ensure it is delivered in the ward in an appetising way. Top management of POW to come to a ward and see and taste the food in person. 

I believe all staff, that I have interacted with, including many teams are aware and continually complain and state that no action has occurred!

I understand staff encourage families to bring in meals - I am aware of food health regulations and believe a safer option would be to ensure POW serves reasonable food.

I have photos of the fluid that the food floats in and am happy to speak to Hospital Management about what I think is the extremely poor quality of food.

I believe food is a major component in the well-being of patients. Presently, in my opinion, the standard at POW is extremely poor and the issue needs to be addressed as a matter of priority.