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Quality of Kincardine hospital food questioned By Liz Dadson |
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 A vending machine dispenses meals that can be rethermalized and other food products for staff to eat  Right inside the main doors of the Kincardine hospital is a billboard display, promoting local fruits and vegetables, available in Grey and Bruce counties | |||||
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The poor quality of hospital food is a regular standing joke. But it's not so funny if you're a patient, stuck in the hospital and relying on that food for daily nutrition. Sheila Ellmore of Inverhuron was a patient at the Kincardine hospital site for a week and said the food was revolting. It was tasteless, the portions were small, and everything was either watery or tasted like yesterday's leftovers. A diabetic, she was concerned that she was served sugar with every hot drink, and the fruit cocktail on her dinner tray had sugar in it. To make things more interesting, the label on the fruit cocktail said "Product of China." Ellmore invited this reporter up at supper time to see for herself what was being served. It did not look very appetizing, and it tasted even worse. Earlier this year, the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, which includes the hospital sites in Kincardine, Walkerton, Chesley and Durham, switched to rethermalized meals and removed the kitchen facilities in all four sites, as a way to save money. Chief executive officer Paul Davies said the same food is served at all four sites and he has received no complaints about it. "If people feel strongly about this issue, they should send me an E-mail or call me at the office," he said. "People are always going to tell you they don't like the food in the hospital." He admitted that initially, the system had a flaw because the food did not reheat evenly when microwaved, so it is now warmed up in convection ovens. Staff has also said that the food does not meet the dietary requirements of patients and that a better food supplier is available but at a higher price. Davies said there are staff who are not going to believe the product is any good even if it's the best food in town. As for the product from China, he said a lot of food comes from other countries, including apple juice imported from China and sold on Ontario shelves. "If we had a choice, we would have all homemade meals from products grown in Grey and Bruce," he said. "But the truth is, much of what I eat at home is pre-packaged and comes from all over the world. If I want black cherries in January, they come from overseas." He said the choice of food provider is not based simply on the bottom line, but on the best deal which is a requirement of the Ontario Ministry of Health. Davies said that the changes in food service at the four sites has generated $500,000 in savings which helps the health centre maintain key programs and services at the four hospitals.
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 A typical supper meal served at the Kincardine hospital  A nearly-empty vending machine offers a few pieces of fruit and other snacks for staff and visitors "When you consider the budget," he said, "we've received an increase from the government of 1.5 per cent. But our expenses have gone up 3.5 per cent. On a $40-million budget, one-per-cent equals $400,000, and two-per-cent equals $800,000. We need the savings from the food service to make up the difference. Otherwise, we're looking at closing more programs and services." If you have partaken of the food at the South Bruce Grey Health Centre hospital sites and wish to lodge a complaint, please E-mail Davies at: pdavies@sbghc.on.ca or call him at 519-370-2417. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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