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The hospital kitchens that'll make you sick
Last updated at 00:07am on 13.08.07Almost half of hospital kitchens fail to meet basic standards of hygiene, it has been revealed.
The catalogue of breaches of food safety rules includes infestations of cockroaches and mice and used needles and syringes left on meal trays.
Environmental health reports from around the country also describe medicines being stored in kitchen fridges, milk being kept in freezers used for drugs and drinks such as orange juice being stored next to chemicals.
In all, almost half of the 377 hospitals surveyed failed to meet the most basic standards of food hygiene.
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Almost half of hospital kitchens fail to meet basic standards of hygiene
Nearly a fifth were found to have stored food at the wrong temperature or in the wrong conditions - a practice that raises the risk of food poisoning - while 18 had out-of-date food.
The reports, released under a Freedom of Information request made by the Liberal Democrats, flagged up poor personal hygiene among staff in 57 hospitals and 11 cases of vermin and other pests.
A 2006 inspection of the kitchens of the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, found "fully grown adult" cockroaches, while the 2007 inspection noted "regular reports of an infestation of oriental cockroaches".
Inspections of the Mayday University Hospital in Croydon, South London revealed that dirty needles and syringes and bloodied dressings were being discarded on meal trays which were then taken back to the kitchens.
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The environmental health inspector noted: "This is a completely unacceptable practice.
"Apart from the danger of food contamination, there is also a significant health and safety risk to kitchen staff, especially staff employed in the wash-up area.
"Nothing except cutlery, crockery and food-related items must be put on food trays and ward staff must check the trays before meal trolleys leave the ward."
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These findings paint a shocking picture of hospital food hygiene in this country. It is simply unacceptable that such terrible practices are taking place in an environment where hygiene and safety should be paramount.
"Sick people are already vulnerable to infection. They don't need the added risk of food-borne bacteria spread by lax standards.
"Patients have a right to know how their food is being prepared when they go into hospital. Hygiene standards must be made public via clear and accessible ratings for each institution.
"The worst performers should be named and shamed - while those doing well would stand as an example to drive up standards."
Neil Fowler, editor of consumer magazine Which?, which carried out its own research into hospital kitchens last year, said: "These findings are absolutely shocking.
"Hospital kitchens should be the cleanest possible environments because they are catering for people who are trying to recover from serious illness and are at their most vulnerable."
A Department of Health spokesman said: "Good food is important for all patients and we expect every NHS trust to take their responsibilities on hospital food very seriously.
"Failure to meet hygiene standards is unacceptable and where there are problems, we expect the local authorities responsible for inspecting and enforcing food hygiene regulations to take action."
A Food Standards Agency spokesman said: 'We would be keen to see any information or report that shows significant hygiene problems and will take the matter up with the local authorities.
"Where there are problems we will expect the local authority to take appropriate and immediate action."
A spokesman for the William Harvey Hospital said its cockroach 'infestation' had been limited to only two of the insects, caught in traps specifically set for the purpose.
A spokesman added that the hospital kitchens had since been given a clean bill of health by environmental health officers.
A spokesman for the Mayday Hospital in Croydon said it was moving to a system in which pre-cooked food will be merely reheated at the hospital.
Other hospitals defended their hygiene standards, saying the data quoted was based on out-of-date inspections and problems have now been resolved.
Reader views (4)
While visiting my Mum in hospital recently I also noticed trays of food were just left in front of patients who didn't touch it because they were asleep or too ill to eat and then taken away again presumably to be thrown in the bin. The lack of care to ensure patients were eating properly and waste of food was terrible.
- Jo, London
It's about time that some department heads and managers were fired for total incompetence.
- Francis Mortimer, Dymchurch, UK
How many patients will have to die before anyone gets the sack for these appalling lapses?
- Lezli, London
Having spent several months visiting my father in hospital recently I can't say I'm surprised by this. The total lack of hygiene in the hospital wards really has to be seen to be believed - so what goes in the kitchens is anybody's guess. Hardly surprising that the rate of infection of superbugs like the appalling c-diff is so high. Why isn't this a national scandal?
- Luciano, Bristol
