HOSPITAL MEALS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 94, 28 July 1944, Page 4

HOSPITAL MEALS

Sir, —Regarding the matter of unsavoury food at the Whakatane Public Hospital and the lack of complaints made by the jDatients to the. visiting committee I should like to state my own case while a patient for 12 days. During that period D had egg twice.,, fish tw.ice, soup twice,, and for the other 30 meals meat. Apart from the monotony of meat three times a day fully-25 per cent of the meat served was unsavoury, in my opinion unfit for human consumption. On several occasions there was too strong an odour from one's plate for the food to be touched, and repeatedly not one patient touched the meat served at certain meals. I admit that one can live, without meat but unfortunately the meat for dinner was accompanied by a most appalling monotony of silver beet cooked black and rich in mineral and a water;logged lump of bush marrow. The only other vegetables I had during the 12 days was savoy cabbage whicht is unpalatable in the summer time as it requires frost before being used. No one ever ate the cabbage. On the odd occasions we saw carrots and butter beans they were more than welcome. The potatoes of course were always edible. The sweets were satisfactory. There were, plenty of complaints but we were given to understand that nothing could be done about it. When we complained about the everlasting trail of silver beet we w T ere told that we had to have it as that was all that was in the hospital garden. Never once did we get anything raw such a lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, spring onions or sweet corn all of which I had ready in my own garden,at home.. According to the nurses there were two> full-time men gardeners and two fUlMime land girls employed in the garden. Many of us wondered how much a "week in wages the Hospital Board paid for this endless trail of silver beet which causes so much, dissatisfaction among patients. Twelve days of it was bad enough. I should be interested to hear what someone thinks about it after twelve weeks and hope that since the need has arisen some other ex-patient will through your columns let the Hospital Board know the truth. Is any member aware of the fact that Stewart Street is called by many "Silver Beet. Alley" and that expatients greet each other on the street with "Hullo, Silver Beet."

In my opinion Board members will never receive, complaints from patients while in hospital for two reasons. The members are not known to the majority and those who do know them do not. care to complaint before, whoever accompanies them for fear of being victimised. One day while sitting in company with several others the sister in charge presented Mrs Haultain to us. She chatted pleasantly for a few utes and passed on her way. The question on every woman's lips was, "Who is Mrs Haultain?" Neither she herself nor the sister mentioned that she was a board member and if we. had any complaints to make now was the time. The, nurses told us afterwards the reason for the visit and we all, agreed that none of us could make complaints before, anyone in charge for as far as our knowledge went they were also, in charge of the kitchen.

Hoping this throws a little light on the subject for those who are endeavouring to improve conditions at the hospital for in my opinion the need is urgent and I hope some other patients or ex-patie.nts will take up their pens and support me in this matter. Yours etc.,, SILVER BEET.