Twentytwo13

Hospital food saga: It’s all about hygiene, food safety, and more eating stations, say doctors

The ban on food delivery to patients and staff imposed by a hospital in Malaysia has got tongues wagging about the quality of food served in public hospitals.

While the management of Sungai Buloh Hospital, located some 20km from Kuala Lumpur, had yesterday rescinded its Aug 9 circular following a public outcry, several doctors highlighted that there must also be serious conversations about food hygiene, safety, and providing adequate designated pick-up points and eating spaces for medical staff.

Prof Datuk Dr NKS Tharmaseelan said it was common for patients to compare food between hospitals.

“I’ve experienced this myself. Some of them (patients) bring food from home, while these days, many order food via food delivery services,” said Dr Tharmaseelan, a former Malaysia Medical Association president.

“The food delivery service is not the issue, but more of the catering services provided by the vendors of the hospitals. The service providers, in most cases, seem more interested in lining their pockets, rather than caring for the patients.”

“It’s universally accepted that hospital food isn’t exciting. If food can be sent to offices and homes, why not hospitals? This way, only a marginal amount of food will be wasted, unlike hospital food, where some patients would only take a bite or two, before throwing it away.”

Dr Tharmaseelan, however, stressed that hygiene and food safety must be the underlying theme.

Dr John Teo, who specialises in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said one should look at the needs of the patients on the one hand, and the needs of the hospital staff, on the other.

“Patients should rightfully only eat food provided by the hospital. This is because they have to conform to dietary restrictions. There have been cases of patients running into complications after eating outside food.

“When things are brought from the outside, there is always the risk of contamination.”

He added that hospitals have a duty of care to their patients and only want the best for them.

“Food hygiene and safety must always be the priority. As for doctors and hospital staff, they should be allowed to order via food delivery services, as they often work long hours. Some of them may get bored with the food at the hospital or may not like it, so they have an option to eat outside food.”

The Sungai Buloh Hospital management, in its circular, which was made public, said that the ban was introduced following reports that leftover food and garbage had attracted pests, which affected hygiene in the wards.

A Taiping-based dentist, who spoke to Twentytwo13, said even if hospital staff were only allowed to eat from the cafeteria, they would still take their food to their designated areas, wards, or clinics.

“The medical staff work long hours and have no time to look for food. Most of the time, there’s no dedicated eating area nearby and the cafeteria is located rather far away,” said the dentist, who wished to remain anonymous.

“As such, they end up bringing their food to their workstations. It shouldn’t be the case but it’s not like they have a choice. Many doctors tapau (pack) their food to the clinics, regardless of whether the food was bought from the hospital’s cafeteria or from outside.

“If there is a designated space nearby, then the eating is confined to a specific area,” he added.

He also said vendors and cafeteria operators, who provide food for patients, staff and visitors, should buck up and introduce creative menus.

Retired medical practitioner Datuk Dr Aljafri Abdul Majid said security can be an issue if you have food delivery personnel waltzing in and around the hospital compound.

The former cardiothoracic surgeon said that if the hospital management allowed food delivery services for its staff, it should have a dedicated area for food to be dropped off.

“It must be in a suitable area, for example, near the cafeteria. The delivery personnel should not be sending food directly to the wards,” said Dr Aljafri.

“I’m not going to comment about the quality of the food (served in hospitals), but people do get bored of the same type of diet over time, and they want some variety.

“It can even be for a celebratory occasion, when their patients get well, or other special occasions… and they want to order outside food. Yes, it should be allowed for the staff as long as security is not compromised.”

He also said hospital staff should be allowed to order food from delivery services.

“If the doctor or staff are on-call, and you cannot get food after 10pm, or after an operation, you have no food to eat. What do you do then? I think in such circumstances, ordering via food delivery services should be allowed, but once again, restricted to dedicated places.”

“As for patients, it’s common practice to bring food from home. I suppose that has been tolerated, but it is something that should not be encouraged.

“For example, if a patient is supposed to be on a certain diet, or they are not supposed to eat before an operation… That is why outside food for patients should not be allowed, as it can bring about complications.”

A patient, who was admitted to a public hospital, shared that she had been enjoying well-balanced meals during her stay. She also provided pictures of her meals to Twentytwo13.

“I’ve got no complaints. Food is served with either chicken or fish, and vegetables. Perhaps different hospitals face different issues,” the patient, who requested anonymity, said.

“In the past, the food was not palatable. Now, it is so much better, especially for patients.

The patient shows her lunch (image above) and dinner, saying “it’s clean and well balanced in terms of nutritional needs.”

“Sometimes, the public does not appreciate what the hospitals under the Health Ministry serve. They just complain. After all, food prepared by the registered health authorities follows hygiene and safety standards set by the ministry.”