General Chat

Well I think the Government should ban the import of eggs from countries where the directives haven't been applied. That way UK suppliers won't be made to suffer because they played by the rules

Surely part of the reason for being in the European Union was for all to be playing on a level playing field.?

Better still........get out of the bl**dy thing all together..but that's a different debate for a different day lol x

Chris, wer'nt you lucky food wise. The food in our hospital is pre-cooked and packed. I am told by prisoners in London, but don't know how true this is, though it is believeable. It is then microwaved.
Recently, I heared the head of finance bleeting on the local radio about they have to make up a £20m shortfall in finances.
The only recommendation so far, is another 10p per hour, on the already costly parking.
But, it will not be long before she comes along with her shiney pointy pen, and slashes the catering budget.
The food is so gross, I keep asking the OH to send me in a Harrods Hamper LOL
I hope they don't think I go in so often for the good of the food. I would not give it to our dog. When OH was in recently, he experienced for himself, what I have always said to him about the food.
Last time I was in, my lunch consisted of soup (packeted), cheese and biscuits, jelly and ice-cream. I had the same in the evening. I just could not stomach anything else.

Julia in Derbyshire

Julia when I had the 6 mth stay I was only eating 3 1/2 mths of that and in the beginning eating very little. Told eat lots of protein - final straw was the day I lifted the pastry and there was one small piece of meat and I mean small about 1" cube. I had the head chef by my bed an hour later and he did not get away with a 10 minute visit. Two weeks later the Catering Manager came around asking questions - I invited him to take a seat as he would need it. In all the dishes with a beef base there were tinned tomatoes in it - so all beef dishes tasted the same and some people like my son are allergic to tomatoes in any shape.

Oh was bringing a flask of soup in daily and butties. The food was good but badly cooked. But the breakfasts were good as it was on this stay I learned about cooked breakfast.

August - OH said I supposed I will be on the butty run again - Wrong I only asked for a packet of ginger nuts. So much so when the Chairman of Trustee Board came around asking questions and when I said catering - he blanched. I said the food had improved out of all expectations, was tasty, well presented and hot. He said they had a new chef and he was working from a temporary kitchen - I told him chef deserved an increase.

If one chef can do it why not all? I know it is hard to cater for large numbers but again - if one can do it. Nurse overheard me and told me one of our carers was married to the chef. When I found her I told her the same and she said he had had a hard job when he began but they were working now!

Chris, if anyone is employed as a 'chef' in our hospital, then it is under false pretences, as no actual cooking, as we all know it, is not done on the premises
Even the meals, are microwaved on the wards by the ward hostesses, another name for meals attendant.
Perhaps I should get in touch with Jamie Oliver, to make another programme about hospital food. He did one before, but I think it was Scarborough, not the entire NHS.

Julia in Derbyshire

Cheap isnt always cheerful is it...


I feel I wanted to share my hospital food opinion as well, when I was last in was 2005 and I was desperate for scrambled egg for breakfast the lovely nurse went off and made me some.

The food menu was devised by Lloyd Grossman, and was I have to say just devine, ... but the breakfast fresh orange and wholemeal toast which was just enough for me, tuna cucumber and mayo wholemeal sandwich for lunch and homemade fish chips and mushy peas all served cold or hot whatever was appropate, obviously there was a good section each day..pity I wasnt well enough to eat it :-( :-(

You could try Julia or ask James Martin to have a go. He turned that kitchen around.

Are UK eggs better than eggs from the rest of the EU...?? :-S :-S :-S :-S :-S

I dont think so.

George :-)

My OH hardly ate anything both times he was in hospital recently. The first time was because he'd been so ill, and lost nearly 4 stone in three weeks, which didn't do his diabetes any good, and second time it was because the food was awful. Pretty much substandard really. The menu looked fantastic, lots of lovely choices, but once plated up, it was just about inedible. I never thought anything would put him off carrots or peas, but that did!

I don't think he was ever offered an egg in any shape or form. Breakfast was cereal or cold leathery toast. Once he went into the rehabilitation unit, he was having double portions, it was much better. (though they still wouldn't allow bacon butties, he did try lol).

I always get my eggs from the local butcher, free range and yummy. Pity they make me so ...errr...bloated though, can't eat them too often. ;-)

George I don't think I suggested that they were.

My point is that our farmers have paid out millions to meet with EU directives re the caging of the hens...and the EU countries that SHOULD be doing the same haven't...therefore their eggs will be CHEAPER..not better !!!!

posted it twice :-\

i mostly buy my eggs from the local market
the egg man there has his own hens
they are dearer but nice fluffy
though if i am stuck i do sometimes buy my eggs at iceland
they are british eggs and quite cheep as they are on offer
muffy try borrowing a cock for a few weeks
and your hens may start to lay

though most hens dont lay very well this time of year

Get he not get a special menu on account of his diabetes ? Even the veggie section was good I must be the only person not to complain about hosiptal food :-D

They weren't laying in the summer Joy...and I def don't want to wake up to the sound of a cockerel every morning lolololol. x

That WAS the diabetic diet, nearly always followed by diabetic jelly and diabetic ice cream...both full of sweeteners, which he hates anyway.

He was allowed a portion of apple and blackcurrant crumble with custard in rehab...but his sugars were quite low at the time, so they said it wouldn't kill him. It didn't either, except he felt sick because he'd just had two big portions of liver and onions...bleuurrrgghhh (he couldn't eat the hospital liver and onions at all, and he loves liver)

I couldnt eat liver and onions full stop blurhhh :-D

you dont have to keep the cock muffy
just borrow him for a few weeks

Don't you Bleurrgghhh around here Hayley, you'll ruin me net curtains!

Oooooooooooohhh talking of net curtains TW I washing this one **points to window** on tuesday its was down right flithy :-)

If you are boiling heaps of eggs you can do that in a net curtain then they all get lifted out at the same time and are all equally cooked ;-)

what a good idea sue x