A grim photo shows the “shocking” hospital food that forced one patient to order McDonald’s instead.
Brits staying at Ayr Hospital were having a hard enough time of things already, being in hospital for a number of reasons.
But their stay got a bit worse when they saw what they were being served for dinner in the Combined Assessment Unit on Wednesday night.
Visitors were left stunned at what their loved ones were having to eat and one patient was so disappointed that she had her daughter bring her a McDonald’s instead.
Stark pictures showed the unappetising meal that left some patients even more eager to get out of hospital.
Kevin Nicholson, 47, from Prestwick was left stunned after his partner Hazel-Ann McDonald, 55, was given the grim plate.
Hazel-Ann had been receiving treatment for an infection at the time.
She said she was offered no other options and given the plate, which appears to contain what seems to be turkey meat, baked beans, and half a tomato, all doused in watery gravy.
Kelly-Ann refused to eat it and was saved going hungry by her daughter who fetched her a McDonald’s.
Health chiefs actually apologised for the food, admitting it wasn’t “up to our usual standard.”
Kevin told Ayrshire Live: “The state of the food my partner received is absolutely shocking. We are disgusted.
“They never gave her any choice, they just dumped it on her.
“I’m just struggling to see that someone thought it was a good choice of a meal. Someone in the kitchen has actually thought that was acceptable.
“It’s a complete mess. Beans and gravy just don’t go and why have they just given her half a tomato?”
Hazel-Ann has been in and out of hospital to deal with a recurring problem and Kevin admits the food standards are usually higher with a menu to choose from.
Kevin added: “Usually in the wards you get a menu choice, there is plenty to choose from but this was just inedible.
“My partner refused to eat it and my daughter had to bring her a McDonald’s instead.”
When contacted by Ayrshire Live NHS Ayrshire & Arran admitted that their Combined Assessment Units are served at meal times including breakfasts.
Options regularly include soup and sandwiches. However they admit that food served out with breakfast, lunch and dinner time can be from a limited selection especially if units are busy.
Nicola Graham, Director of Infrastructure and Support Services added: “We sincerely apologise to any patient who has been provided with food which is not up to our usual standard and would ask that they contact us directly so that we can investigate and provide feedback.”
