HOSPITAL DIET

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 8

HOSPITAL DIET

COMPLAINT AND KBPL"S

A correspondent, "Ratepayer," writes to "The Post," "at the request of a, very large number of the patients," to complain of dietary conditions at Wellington Hospital. "I should like to be most emphatic in stating that' everyone- (he states), almost without exception, cannot speak too highly of the sisters, nurses, and doctors. The kindness and courtesy of the sisters and nurses, combined with the skill and sympathy of the doctors, is really beyond praise." The complaints, which are made in detail, concern the quality of soup, the cooking and serving of the meat, the preparation of vegetables, and the addition of too much water to milk puddings. ; The correspondent asks for an investigation by; the dietitian of these conditions.

THE BOARD'S REPLY.

A copy of "Ratepayer's" letter was submitted to the Hospital authorities, and the following reply was 'received: —

"The dieting of over GOO "patients is a task of considerable magnitude, and requires a high degree of organisation. The kitchen department of the Hospital has been recently reorganised, centralised, and transferred to a new block, and its organisation has not yet had time to reach quite that state of perfection that everyone would like..

'Special insulated carriers for the food have been on order for some time, and should bo in use in a week or two, and it is hoped that in a short time the kitchen will be as'efficient'as the. other' departments of the Hospital. With, regard to the specific complaints in your ■ correspondent's letter, some are undoubtedly incorrect.

' "There are very few- complaints indeed made to the medical stall' about the hospital diet, and the great majority of the patients express themselves as very well satisfied." ■