Hospital food 'unhealthy'

Embarrassed bosses have ordered a review after it was discovered that dishes sold at the Western Infirmary and the Royal Infirmary contained too much salt and fat.

An undercover probe by consumer watchdog Which? made the shock findings when both hospitals and 19 others across Britain were targeted. At the Western, one dietician slammed the vegetables on offer in the hospital canteen as "soggy" and found a chicken chasseur meal with new potatoes, green beans and mushrooms contained enough salt to breach government health guidelines.

Researchers also bought pasties, pies and sausage rolls at the hospital and at the Royal Infirmary which contained high concentrations of fat and salt.

Both Glasgow hospitals and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary were found to have sold the unhealthiest savouries of all the 21 hospitals.

And the Glasgow Royal Infirmary canteen was the worst of the three. It's main meal of pork meatballs in a tomato sauce with baked tomatoes and roast potatoes broke guidelines set by the government for fat, salt and calories.

But Glasgow health chiefs defended the food served up.

An NHS Greater Glasgow spokeswoman claimed: "Our canteens offer a wide variety of food choices including many healthy options.

"The results from the evaluation of a single meal are merely indicative of the nutritional content of that one meal and not of the overall menu."

No comment was made about the fat and salt-laden savouries although Helen Davidson, the health board's dietician and catering expert, did admit that improvements could be made and a review was taking place.

Nikki Ratcliff, of Which?, said: "The situation at the moment is farcical. Although we did find some examples of good practice, most hospitals we visited really need to raise their game."

The findings come at a time when the Scottish Government plans to introduce nutrition standards in hospitals within three years and remove sugary drinks from vending machines.