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Thread: vegan food in hospitals?

  1. #1
    WildWitch
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    Default vegan food in hospitals?

    Not sure how many of you have experienced hospitals attitudes towards vegans but following my last 2 nights stay in Morriston hospital i can honestly say its appauling and something should be done.

    On the menu for lunch on Tuesday was chicken nuggats or fish served with peas and potatoes. I declined any lunch that day as i was about to have surgery anyway. Dinner was another matter though, after my surgery and rather hungry from the pre op fast i was ready for something light. I was given the choice of cheese and potato pie or salmon pasta bake. When i explained i was vegan they managed to get me some potatoes, yup just potatoes mashed with a fork, no alternative butter or anything but just potatoes on their own. The lady who had the cheese and potato pie said it tasted like it had tonns of salt and she reckons it was that nasty cadburys smash stuff.

    How on earth are people supposed to get well on this type of food.

    Later on the evening the drinks trolly came round, i would have loved a hot chocolate but they didnt have any soya milk. I asked what about those lactose intolerant patients to which the nurse replied the dietician has to pass the neccessary paperwork for those patients to have soya milk and that takes a week to do (being in A&E following an accident i didnt have the time or ability to see into the future well enough to do that). So i told them i wouldnt bother with a drink, then the nurse asked me if id like a cup of bovril, staring at her i thought she was joking, i said im vegan, yes she said the bovril is nice and filling. I just lookedat her and said but its beef, to which she looked back and said oh are you a vegetarian as well.

    Our life is in the hands of these people. They care for people day after day of all faiths, races etc. Its a huge hospital that covers most of South to Mid Wales surly you would expect the staff to know what vegan means.

    Breakfast the next morning was all cereal (again no soya milk) so i was offered toast with flora spread ffs they really have no idea have they. You should have seen the amounts of sugar they were putting on the patients cereals, its criminal.

    Funny thing is i have a lip and chin that is badly damaged, just by looking at me she must have known i couldnt attempt to bite into toast (or cereal at that matter). Porridge i could have managed if there was soya milk but no, that can only be prescribed by a dietician. Thankfuly my friend picked me up some v8 juice and a few fruit smoothies so i didnt starve to death.

    So glad to be home again.

  2. #2
    muxu bero bat! gogs67's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    That's terrible!
    I know that the Edinburgh Royal infirmary caters ok for vegans!
    Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty!

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    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    OMG Wildwitch, that is unbelievable!
    How bloody annoying and frustrating to have to endure such stupid people. What's wrong with them? You would think at the very least they could provide soya milk for those who are lactose intolerant!
    Hope you are ok and I'm glad you are out of there!
    I like Sandra, she keeps making me giggle. Daft little lady - Frosty

  4. #4
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    That's useless. Hope you're OK in spite of their attempts to starve you, WildWitch! What happened to you if you don't mind my asking?

    Maybe you could ask the Vegan Society to talk to them about it and send them some copies of their catering booklet. The trouble is I suspect they would lose it before the next vegan patient arrives. What we really need (from many points of view) is a critical mass of vegans.

  5. #5
    Cookie Monster RachelJune's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Poor WildWitch, that's horrendous!! I would be so p**ed off I agree it's appalling in hospitals. I hope you're feeling better now.

    When my dad was in hospital following a heart attack (and later, after a double bypass operation) meals provided on the heart ward included pork pies and full english breakfasts! Trying to bring on their next heart attack, perhaps??! I was appalled, but my dad didn't really have a choice - he was sick and needed to eat. It's abuse, imo.

    Nothing surprises me anymore! One would think though, like you said, that they'd spare a thought for different religions/cultures where, for example, meat/certain foods are prohibited. Aren't they obliged by law to respect people's religious beliefs? I'd be surprised if they even checked if the cheese was vegetarian. And don't get me started on the soya milk thing.... So they can dish out all manner of crap food to patients but they can't provide soya milk without the approval of a dietician????

    Mad mad mad mad mad WildWitch - you are a saint for managing to not kill someone!
    "Born on the same planet, Covered by the same skies..."

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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    i'm really sorry to hear about your experiences, but we do have a saying in the NHS it goes like this: "don't get sick in wales!" ha ha ha hahhahah! no seriously. I used to work in wales until last month; i left because the quality of service is all round appalling. As a member of staff i couldn't get anything decent to eat in the staff canteen and what patients get is WAY worse. Even in meetings everyone else is provided lunch and i'm expected to take my own. boils my blood.

    Please take the time to complain. It might feel like you're making a whole lot of fuss but please, please contact the PALS officer - (patient advice and liaison service) because if people don't complain nothing changes.

    Although under equality legislation all public bodies have to cater for religious beliefs e.g. making sure a hindu doesn't have to eat a cow, or a muslim a pig ... but for people who choose to be vegan out of ethical principles outside of a religious context... nah. we don't count. i have thought about claiming to be Buddhist so that i am treated equally at work, but i think that would be a terrible thing to do.

    Hope you're on the mend now Wildwitch.

  7. #7
    Mrs. Beane fondducoeur's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    O man. That sounds awful! I worry about that sometimes, I can't imagine the hospitals here in Missouri could possibly be better; I only hope my bf/family will have pity and feed me if I find myself there!
    tabbouleh-bouleh

  8. #8
    Making changes Est's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    That is so awful Wild Witch!

    Really glad you're home now and on the mend. x

    I'd definitely complain to PALS like Agatha mentions.

  9. #9
    [LMNOP] ellaminnowpea's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Oh no! I hope you recover soon, Wildwitch.

    My exprience last time in the hospital was very similar. I was given chicken, potato w/ cheese, and buttered veggies. I told them I'm vegan and I woudnt eat it. I didn't bother asking for another meeal. They said "oh you're fine". I went two days like that. They then realized I wasnt eating, lost weight, etc and called in a psychiatrist to evaluate me for an eating disorder! Idiots! I would have eaten if given real food.

  10. #10
    Rice Dream Digital Ghost's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    I was in hospital for quite a long time in England and all I got given was cereal (no soy milk), toast (no spread), apples and jacket potatoes with baked beans for the first week. They had vegetables but they were always cooked with butter or some sort of dairy product. The tea and coffee was pre-made with dairy products and so were the biscuits.

    I had to rely on a dietitian to get any other items like soy milk - some weeks they had the money for it and other weeks they didn't. The dietitian was obese (no offence - but well you know) and didn't really understand veganism - several times offering alternatives that contained fish or dairy.

    After a while a few of the nurses felt sorry for me (as I have no real family to help) and would buy me items. They had a small fridge where I could put a few items like soy milk and hummus - sadly it had no freezer. They could heat up products but not properly cook them - so basically the stuff they were serving was sort of like the pre made ready meals you get.
    The day breaks and everything is new.

  11. #11
    sugarmouse
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    This is horrible I agree How on earth do they feed such tot to people who are ill, and think its ok!
    I mean from waht you said,RachelJune, they are barmy!
    even if I wasnt a vegan, I belive I would expect sometin healthier than a bliddy fry up to eat when I was ill?! These people cannot be thinking straight, to think its ok to feed such things to ill people?I mean everyone knows fry ups are bad for you, even omnis?!
    I am lucky to have not had a stay in hspital since I was a kid really.
    I had a nasty infection once and was in overnite butwas too poorly to eat, and luckily had taken in some fizzy water and orange juice.
    I lived on that, but luckily for me, I was too sick to have an appetite.I was offered food and refused it , but even if it was vegan I probably would have.
    Its disgusting that they cannot even provide a basic such a soya milk, lots and lots of people i know who are not vegan, prefer that to cows milk, its pretty 'normal' nowadays.

  12. #12
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote WildWitch View Post
    oh are you a vegetarian as well.
    So glad to be home again.
    lol
    "To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

  13. #13
    Karma Junkie vava's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Ex nurse talking here - the problem you had was not with anyone but the stupid nurses - (in my experience there are a lot of them around) who will be roundly slated by managers if you complain. Below is part of the patients charter. I presume it is still in force.

    CATERING SERVICES

    From April 1995, if you have to stay in hospital, you can expect to be given a written explanation of the hospital’s patient food, nutrition and health policy and the catering services and standards you can expect during your stay.
    The standards will mean that:
    you have a choice of dishes, including meals suitable for all dietary needs;


    All the nurses needed to do was contact the catering manager and your problems should have been solved. It is the nursing staff that are at fault here and if this ever happens to anyone again please ask to speak to the nurse in charge and register your formal complaint. Things will happen very quickly after that!



    So sorry you have had this problem - but I hope when you feel better you will follow it up with a hefty complaint.
    even perfect isn't perfect - Rubyduby 4th July 08

  14. #14
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    really sorry to hear about this WildWitch - hope you're on the mend now. do complain - as Agatha says you should get in touch with your local PALS service because you have a right to be fed decent food. luckily the only time i've been in hospital since being vegan i was too ill to eat anything anyway.

  15. #15
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    That's useful to know, vava.

    I suppose the trouble is that people in hospital are often at a low ebb and not best able to do battle with nurses and catering staff. There are a lot of people with allergies etc around now though so you think they would have a procedure for addressing different "dietary needs" wouldn't you?

  16. #16
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Seems us vegans arnt that well catered for in hospitals at all.

    Im fairly new to Wales, from the Midlands originaly. I had my two children in a Birmingham hospital that did really well foodwise, meals were healthier than what i saw in Morriston the last few days and the staff were well clued up on vegetarianism (i was veggie at the time and had about 3 options on the menu). Im pretty sure there was soya milk for the breakfast cereals too. I guess its cause Birmingham hospitals cater for such a diverse multi cultural range of patients where here in wales they dont. It is dreadful though, everyone should be catered for regardless of faith, personal choice or special diet.

    To add to my misery i have an injury that restricts chewing. I fell over a man hole cover while walking home the other day, smashed my lip and cheak. Its been cleaned up and stitched nicely but might have to go back for a skin graft later. Will know more Monday when stitches come out.

    Iv just had to go to tesco on line to do my shopping, ordered lots of soups and humous which is easy to eat. Did have some cous cous salad but cant chew the sultanas boo hoo.

    What seems to really bother me though is the way hospitals are the most unlikely places for anyone to ever recover. They are noisy, too many people in one ward, particularly like the one i was in the last two nights with an elderly patient suffering from altzhimers, she kept waking everyone up shouting at them and getting patients to do things for her. I did feel sorry for the staff dealing with her and i know she couldnt help it but omg she did annoy me when she kept shouting at me, i was so ill i couldnt speak never mind deal with her demands. The staff doing the cleaning im sure were purposly bumping their mops against the patients beds, i woke up so startled on one occasion to see a cleaner with a mop banging on my bed. Then the staff insisted on putting the tv on, blaring out daytime tv programmes, bright lights constantly shining in your face when all you want to do is relax and doze off. And do the nursing staff really have to bang bin lids so noisily when they dispose of dressings? Then of course there is the lack of personal attention if you have questions you want to ask about your health. One nurse really snapped at me when i asked her how i should care for the wound at home.

    I understand staff there are stressed and overworked but i was stressed and extremely concerned about my face ffs. Just wanted to know if there was anything i could do to help it heal and reduce scaring but she bit my head off. Wasnt much easier that i couldnt speak very clearly cause of my puffed up lip.

    Id really like to see hospitals operate differently, i know its a matter of cash but our health is so important to us, how on earth can we make a perfect recovery without the proper help and support.

    I will put in a complaint about the food though. Id love to see something done about that, firstly make vegan diets catered for and secondly do some kind of programme like what Jamie Oliver did for schools in hospitals. Can you believe they served cheese and potato pie with peas and potatoes, wheres the nutritional value there? These menus are so badly thought up, its appauling. Makes me feel i want to start some kind of campaign.

  17. #17
    treaclemine
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    You can download: http://www.vegansociety.com/images/H...ingBooklet.pdf or request: http://www.vegansociety.com/contact/ copies of free, full-colour The Vegan Society Hospital and Care Home catering guide.

    The new UK Equality Act has not yet been tested, but could be interpreted as requiring that vegans are provided with an acceptable alternative to non-vegan meals in hospital. See e.g. :

    http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=5145558

    and

    http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20071092_en_1

    Part 2Discrimination on grounds of religion or belief
    Key concepts
    44 Religion and belief
    In this Part—
    (b) “belief” means any religious or philosophical belief,

    46 Goods, facilities and services


    (1) It is unlawful for a person (“A”) concerned with the provision to the public or a section of the public of goods, facilities or services to discriminate against a person (“B”) who seeks to obtain or use those goods, facilities or services—
    (a) by refusing to provide B with goods, facilities or services,
    (b) by refusing to provide B with goods, facilities or services of a quality which is the same as or similar to the quality of goods, facilities or services that A normally provides to—

    (i) the public, or
    (ii) a section of the public to which B belongs,

  18. #18
    BlackCats
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote WildWitch View Post
    What seems to really bother me though is the way hospitals are the most unlikely places for anyone to ever recover.
    Id really like to see hospitals operate differently, i know its a matter of cash but our health is so important to us, how on earth can we make a perfect recovery without the proper help and support.
    I agree. People seem to have a fear of hospitals, they do not seem at all welcoming places and most of us will have to visit one at least once in our lives. Btw not to slate nurses but my friend has just started back at nursing and she said she has been shocked by some of the attitudes of some of her colleagues towards the patients. She said some of them are really rude and unhelpful even to patients that are perfectly pleasant and polite. She did say that the cleanliness aspect has been improved a lot though. This is just one hospital though, I'm sure not all nurses do a bad job and I think hospital staff do a difficult job and I think I read that they are statistically very likely to be attacked at work.

    Sorry to hear about that anyway WW.

  19. #19
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote BlackCats View Post
    I agree. People seem to have a fear of hospitals, they do not seem at all welcoming places and most of us will have to visit one at least once in our lives. Btw not to slate nurses but my friend has just started back at nursing and she said she has been shocked by some of the attitudes of some of her colleagues towards the patients. She said some of them are really rude and unhelpful even to patients that are perfectly pleasant and polite. She did say that the cleanliness aspect has been improved a lot though. This is just one hospital though, I'm sure not all nurses do a bad job and I think hospital staff do a difficult job and I think I read that they are statistically very likely to be attacked at work.

    Sorry to hear about that anyway WW.
    Well i did meet some lovely nurses and doctors while i was there, more nice ones than bad ones but sadly the bad one was the last one i saw on my way out so still implanted in my mind i guess.

    Iv also seen the shit they have to put up with, the lady in the bed next to me for example who swore at nurses, told them she hated them and couldnt do their jobs properly. Not her fault as i said, she had alzhimers but must be a nightmare for the staff, particularly the ones that get in the way when she lashes out.

    There were also a young couple had a fall out while i was in A&E, both drunk or out of their heads on something or other. Security had to be called cause of them fighting.

    I must admit i probably did sound a total snob asking for soya milk or herb tea but i wasnt abusive or nasty at all, didnt have the energy to be if id wanted, i was ill. Not that im like that at all anyway. But it seems so unfair that some of us are quiet, just want to rest in hospital yet no nurse has the time just to pop over and say are you ok cause of the ones who are so demanding, abusive and a total nightmare to work with. All i wanted to know was about aftercare for my wound.

    Thanks treacle for posting those links, most useful.

  20. #20
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote WildWitch View Post
    I fell over a man hole cover while walking home the other day, smashed my lip and cheak. Its been cleaned up and stitched nicely but might have to go back for a skin graft later. Will know more Monday when stitches come out.
    are you going to sue the local council? sounds like you've got a good case there.

  21. #21
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    I have been visiting a hospital in SW London quite a bit recently and most of the nurses there seem very kind and conscientious, but there is quite a bit of variation between and even within wards.

    Yes they are under a lot of pressure but there's no excuse for being rude to a patient who's just asking a perfectly reasonable question.

  22. #22
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Not sure, seems it has to be sticking up an inch or more, my mum and friends have told me i should make a claim, will measure it up and take pics then see what i can do. To be honest i really did suffer from it, enough for a nice holiday would ease the pain a little maybe. Im more concerned about scaring left though, hey maybe if i need the skin graft i can go private if i sue the council and have a nice 3 course vegan dish made up specialy for me, what ya reckon lol.

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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    I have been in hospital a few times and encountered different attitudes over the years.
    Now I know to ask for the multicultural menu (which has vegan options).
    The standard menu was gross last time I experienced it.
    If yoU know you are going to be in, in the UK, get in touch with the Vegan Society before you go and take your legal (human rights, phone numbers etc) stuff with you.
    If you have a chronic illness which means you might be more likely to be admitted to hospital, make sure your hospital consultant knows you are vegan.
    Then you can tell the nurses that he or she is OK with your diet (I know this makes it sounds like you are asking approval, but a lot of nurses seem to have a misunderstanding when it comes to vegans in hospital- like you can only have vegan food on doctors orders...grr)!
    See my local diary ... http://herbwormwood.blogspot.com/

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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote Agatha View Post
    Although under equality legislation all public bodies have to cater for religious beliefs e.g. making sure a hindu doesn't have to eat a cow, or a muslim a pig ... but for people who choose to be vegan out of ethical principles outside of a religious context... nah. we don't count.
    Just ask for the multicultural menu next time, you will find the options suitable for vegans, and of course we count.
    You don't even have to mention religion at all, I assure you.
    See my local diary ... http://herbwormwood.blogspot.com/

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    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    it's just a shame that you have to know to ask for the multicultural menu, otherwise the staff don't seem to offer it.

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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    You do now!
    See my local diary ... http://herbwormwood.blogspot.com/

  27. #27
    pathologist
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Well of course everyone is entitled to ask for something that conforms to their beliefs and I'm absolutely certain that the nurses could have done better for you. But hospitals tend to know their market rather well; in the Trust where I work for example, attempts by the catering supplier to give the patients and their families something that isn't chips and gravy and met with the greatest suspicion. I regularly see families in the canteen ask what something like broccalli is! It could be that the staff have just never heard of anyone who eats just plant based things - it might be such an alien notion in the culture of most of the clients.

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    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote herbwormwood View Post
    You do now!
    yes but it's too late for WildWitch and no good for any of the other vegans in this country who don't know either. my point is that if they offer this menu, the staff should know to offer it to patients, not patients having to be aware of it beforehand.

  29. #29
    ♥♥♥ Tigerlily's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    That's horrible, WildWitch.
    Peace, love, and happiness.

  30. #30
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote herbwormwood View Post
    Just ask for the multicultural menu next time, you will find the options suitable for vegans, and of course we count.
    You don't even have to mention religion at all, I assure you.
    Multi cultural in Wales lol, theres Welsh and those ethnic minority English folk like me, thats it as far as there concerned.

    I do appologise to any Welsh members here in advance but im sure you know what i mean.

    Would love to see their reaction if they asked me my religion too hahaha!

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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    i'm also quite concerned Wildwitch that you had an impairment to your ability to eat but weren't assessed by a speech and language therapist. why was that? its law that feeding difficulties have to be assessed by a SALT within 24 working hours or the patient remains nil by mouth. This applies even for jaw injuries because if you're not chewing properly there is an increased risk of choking. The SALT will then tell the nrses what textures of food are safe for you, and in your case could have organised a visit from the dietitian.

    Like many hospital procedures this is very difficult for patients to know because noone PLANS to be in hospital (apart from maternity wards) and by the time you're faced with the reality you're too ill, scared and confused to start thinking about how to get things done and what rights you have.

    does anyone know if the Vegan society have produced information for hospital staff? Maybe this should be our campaign for World Vegan Day this year?

  32. #32
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    The Vegan Society's catering booklet that I mentioned earlier is meant to be partly for hospitals. Not sure if they've produced anything more specific. Animal Aid had a campaign about hospital catering a few years back too IIRC.

  33. #33
    LGBunny
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    I haven't had much luck the two times I have been in this year. The first trip was an 8 hour stay where I got a slice of dry (yup completely dry) white toast and black coffee with 2 sugars the whole time I was there. The second visit I had a soggy banana on stale bread after a 10 hour stay.

    It's just too much to expect the NHS to manage the basics like knowing what's going on with your general situation, nevermind providing decent food! I'd definately take supplies next time.

  34. #34
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    No Agatha, nothing like that was offered, im still having trouble eating, cant chew and of course the swelling in my lip is still a problem when i eat and drink, still using a straw to drink.

    I will take a few bottles of V8 juice, some humous, juice, herb tea bags, soya milk, pure spread and snackable things with me on Monday just in case they decide to keep me in for the skin graft.

    when your feeling ill the last thing you tend to think about is rights etc. I didnt have the energy to ask most of the time but its good to know all these things for other times we might be in hospitals or supporting someone we know who is in hospital. When my friend was in the same hospital i was in (though he was in the cancer ward) the food was disgusting, he was veggie and they served him fish and chips, he was disgusted but too ill to argue, though i did for him many times. All i got from the staff when i ranted about their being no nutritional value in the food he was getting, they just said its all down to money, its what they can afford for patients. I even asked a member of staff one day if they would eat what they had just served him, and they said no way and laughed, in front of him too.

    My friend Steve spent lots of time in hospital during his illness, i would say none of his meals were nutritionaly balanced, they were mostly tastless and boring but nothing was ever done to change it. I used to sneak him food in that he liked, cost me a fortune which is really bad cause the hospital should have been offering him the foods he liked and putting his health needs first, but they didnt. When your terminaly ill as he was the least they could do was cater for him better than that, its an insult to feed a patient in the state he was in such rubbish.

  35. #35
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    That's shocking, Wildwitch You'd think when people are that ill they'd make some kind of effort.

    It does seem to vary though. People seem to think the food in our local hospital (St George's in Tooting) is actually quite nice in a school dinner-ish way, although again I don't know how they would manage if confronted with a vegan. At least it's very "multicultural" round here so they must be used to dealing with different diets.

  36. #36
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Got to go back tomorrow to get stitches removed, will find out if i need further surgery, will take snacks with me just in case.

  37. #37
    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    All the very best for tomorrow WildWitch.........hopefully you won't need further surgery!
    I like Sandra, she keeps making me giggle. Daft little lady - Frosty

  38. #38
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote sandra View Post
    All the very best for tomorrow WildWitch.........hopefully you won't need further surgery!
    Thanks, im just so scared in case they want to stick that horrible 10ft needle inside my wound again, worst pain id ever known

  39. #39
    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital


    Ouch!..........hopefully that was just to numb the area so they could stitch it.............fingers crossed they won't do anything like that tomorrow!
    That 10" needle sounds horrific! I'm sure that was more painful than the original injury!
    I like Sandra, she keeps making me giggle. Daft little lady - Frosty

  40. #40

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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote herbwormwood View Post
    Just ask for the multicultural menu next time, you will find the options suitable for vegans, and of course we count.
    You don't even have to mention religion at all, I assure you.
    not all trusts have this menu, it's trust specific.

  41. #41
    WildWitch
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    Quote sandra View Post

    Ouch!..........hopefully that was just to numb the area so they could stitch it.............fingers crossed they won't do anything like that tomorrow!
    That 10" needle sounds horrific! I'm sure that was more painful than the original injury!
    Well i was exagerating about the 10 foot needle lol but omg when it went up my nose, via my lip i thought it was going to come out the top of my head the way the doctor was pushing with all his might.

    Never had stitches removed before, well not that i remember, fell off my scooter when i was 4 thats the last time i had that done.

  42. #42
    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    I'm daft...........I read 10 foot as 10 inches...........I was wondering though........even 10 inches sounded a lot............well it would, wouldn't it?
    Even so, having a needle stuck into you like that isn't the most pleasant of things to experience.
    I remember when I was about 5, I fell and gashed my head just above my eye. I had to have stitches and can still remember screaming when they were numbing it..............that was worse than the original injury!
    I like Sandra, she keeps making me giggle. Daft little lady - Frosty

  43. #43
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    best of luck tomorrow WildWitch. i had stitches in my finger once and it didn't hurt too much when they took them out. hope you heal well. *hugs*

  44. #44
    journey
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Don't know that I can add much to the general agreement on being disgusted with the hospital food situation, but I've always figured if it was anything elective or planned I'd bring all my food with me, instruct a loved one to argue and complain for me if I didn't feel up to it, and make sure I wasn't charged for any hospital food I couldn't eat.

    Of course that doesn't work when it's an unplanned accident.

    I've also considered saying I was Buddhist, hoping the religious angle would be taken more seriously (people think veganism is just a preference so you could eat meat if you have to, unlike someone with religious reasons...). Not sure what the answer is here.

  45. #45
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Ill let you all know tomorrow, might post a pic of my scar as well lol.

    I dont usualy flinch at needles at all, i love my piercings, had a tattoo, had two children so lots of blood tests (had aneimia with my first one) had to have one stitch after having my son, only one but that was a soluble one and i was so high on gas and air i didnt care anway when i had a needle in me fanny.

    Also had a needle in my eyes once, had to have my eyes flushed following an infection, thats where they pass a tube down the corner of each eye, pump it with saline and clean out the gunk thats there. Even that wasnt as bad as the one i had on Wednesday in my lip.

    So not looking forward to this tomorrow.

  46. #46
    cobweb
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    ooh, just read this, poor you, wildwitch!

    i used to live in Towyn btw, my son was born in Bodelwyddan hospital - then we lived on the Isle of Anglesey for a few years, so i really know what you're on about with welsh hospitals!. We were lucky to find nurses that would speak English to us at Bangor hospital, actually.

  47. #47
    WildWitch
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    Quote cobweb View Post
    ooh, just read this, poor you, wildwitch!

    i used to live in Towyn btw, my son was born in Bodelwyddan hospital - then we lived on the Isle of Anglesey for a few years, so i really know what you're on about with welsh hospitals!. We were lucky to find nurses that would speak English to us at Bangor hospital, actually.
    Oh no, thats dreadful, i did feel uncomfortable when the other patients were all speaking Welsh with each other and they got visitors. Dont know why but it makes me feel so out of place when everyone around me is speaking Welsh, i kind of panic which is stupid i know, cause when im on holiday in a forign country i accept it as normal. Id have been really scared if i couldnt find English speaking staff last week.

  48. #48
    cobweb
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    well they certainly could speak English but they didn't want to .

    we loved Wales (my husband lived there for over 30 years, me for about 14), but we never felt 100% able to be 'ourselves' there. When we lived on the island there was prominent graffiti all over the walls next to the dual carriageway saying 'colonists go home' and 'england this way >'
    i don't think most incomers want to be colonists but end up that way due to hostility .

  49. #49
    WildWitch
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    Quote cobweb View Post
    well they certainly could speak English but they didn't want to .

    we loved Wales (my husband lived there for over 30 years, me for about 14), but we never felt 100% able to be 'ourselves' there. When we lived on the island there was prominent graffiti all over the walls next to the dual carriageway saying 'colonists go home' and 'england this way >'
    i don't think most incomers want to be colonists but end up that way due to hostility .
    I know exactly what you mean, iv had mums at the school gates saying English bitch go home also people at work being rather offish with me but worst was my ex who would speak in welsh in front of me and laugh, i once asked him not to do it as i was uncomfortable and he ended up getting really nasty, telling me how i was responsible for the death of the Welsh language, killing many Welsh people and causing poverty to their land (over 800 years ago apparantly) still he got really nasty and forced an appolgogy out of me, after that he got really arrogant so i had to end the relationship, though that was after he spiked me and left me unconcious and suffering concusion for 3 days.

    Very difficult getting a job over here too.

    Still im getting myself back to normal, his type im sure arnt typical of the welsh, in fact i have some fantastic friends up here who have been most supportive during my miserable time this year. My children love it here too so ill stick around a bit longer. Just try harder not to ever get ill and if i do again ill go back to mums to be treated in England lol, might avoid dating Welsh men too

    No offence ment to anyone here ok.

    Hugs

  50. #50
    cobweb
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    Default Re: vegans in hospital

    yes, i too met some lovely welsh people and am definitely not anti-welsh.
    my son was taught bi-lingually at school from the age of 3.5 years, he wrote and spoke welsh. I also learnt some myself. I can see some of the gripes but i still think we are all from the U.K, and i refuse to apologise for my ancestors actions!.

    Hmm, we have gone off-topic wildwitch

    er, to get back on-topic, we have a small cottage hospital here but for any operations/difficult births, and some specialist appointments (including child psychiatry at the monet, grr) we have to fly over to Aberdeen hospital.

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