Nurses slam hospital overrun with quick meals deliveries to sufferers’ beds
Nurses have slammed the “bonkers” state of affairs at one UK hospital the place sick sufferers are ordering takeaway deliveries straight to their bedsides – in a city that’s battling an weight problems disaster.
James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, Teesside, permits sufferers to usher in their very own meals to the ward, so long as they’ve clearance from a medical skilled, with sources on the hospital saying that this contains quick meals takeaways.
And employees say that whereas they will perceive why sufferers resort to consuming unhealthy meals on their ward, it doesn’t assist their well being.
One nurse on the hospital, who wished to stay nameless, advised Express.co.uk: “It’s frustrating. Often it’s visitors ordering and eating.
“Then you have women who are perhaps nil by mouth, or in pain in communal areas feeling sick and they are tolerating other people’s food smells.”
The nurse on the hospital – which specialises within the therapy of most cancers, coronary heart circumstances and neurosurgery – may also see why sufferers and their guests would possibly resort to takeaways.
But she says that the city faces an weight problems disaster, and the local paper TeessideLive stories that round one in 10 youngsters are overweight once they begin college and that determine shoots as much as one in 5 as soon as they’re in Year 6.
Middlesbrough additionally has a bigger proportion of severely overweight, overweight and obese youngsters than the North East and England common.
The nurse stated: “I also see the flip side. Out of hours there are no food shops or restaurants open in the hospital, and people often have long waits and can’t purchase refreshments – or staff are unable to buy anything.
“There should be facilities open at all times. Even the sandwich trolley that used to serve the staff on nights has been stopped. If there was facilities out of hours we can ask [for] food not to be eaten in public areas of the wards.”
She added that the city’s well being is at “crisis point” however sufferers are needing to depend on unhealthy meals.
She stated: “Our obesity levels are at crisis point yet we give people no access to food other than takeaways for a large proportion of hours! Bonkers.”
One widespread Middlesbrough takeaway confirmed to Express.co.uk that it delivered meals to “any entrance” after we tried to make a supply order straight to the hospital. Another well-known pizza takeaway confirmed it delivered to the hospital.
Another James Cook nurse, who didn’t wish to be named, claimed that she’s seen guests bringing in Indian takeaways and pizzas.
She stated: “I have seen members of the public bringing in food. But if it’s busy, a lot going on and people waiting a long time to be seen I can understand why people do it. We have a 24-hour service.
“I haven’t seen [delivery drivers] coming in but I have seen someone go out and come back with food, meeting a delivery driver or picking it up themselves. It’s not an every shift occurrence but it does happen.”
The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust runs the hospital, and a spokesperson stated in response to the claims: “Our ward staff, catering team and dietitians work closely to make sure our patients receive nutritious hospital food that is tailored to their individual needs.
“We have a wide range of food on offer and encourage patients to let us know if they have any specific requirements.
“Occasionally, patients wish to have food brought in, if it isn’t detrimental to their care and they seek the permission of the nurse in charge, all we ask is that it is consumed immediately, and this is in part of a balanced diet.”
The belief additionally highlighted its on-line recommendation on the matter. It says: “Only sweets, biscuits, fruit and canned or bottled drinks can be brought in for patients.
“No other food should be brought in without the permission of the nurse in charge and visitors will be asked to inform staff of any perishable food or drink brought in. Refreshments cannot routinely be provided to visitors.”
It additionally advised Express.co.uk that snacks could be requested by sufferers at any time.
Just Eat and Uber Eats, who function takeaway deliveries within the space, have been approached for remark.
Do you’re employed in a UK hospital with related points? Should sufferers be allowed to order takeaways to their bedsides? Please get in contact together with your ideas and tip-offs by emailing mieka.smiles@reachplc.com