"Hospital Food"

Dear Curiosity

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We appreciate all feedback, good and bad, to enable us to make changes to continually improve our services.

I’m sorry that you were unhappy with the food provided at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (PMH), and thank you for providing us with your suggestions. I can advise you that the menu is not designed to be low fat unless the child’s medical condition dictates this. Lower fat options are available if desired.

Margarine is offered as evidence shows that monounsaturated fats are considered better for prevention of chronic disease. Based on your feedback, we will now review the choices available for our patients.

Sugar in desserts is controlled as per the menu standards and diet specifications. I can assure you that the meals meet the standards for salt, and menu analysis shows that a week’s worth of meals comes in under the Nutrient Reference Value for sodium for all the age groups.

In relation to your comments about fresh and frozen vegetables, at the moment cauliflower, carrot, broccoli mix, potatoes, sweet potato, onion, pumpkin are all fresh; whereas the frozen vegetables are peas, corn, green beans and broccoli when they are offered individually and not as a mix. When we move to Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) there are plans to use fresh beans and broccoli, and the new ovens at PCH should result in better cooked vegetable items.

I hope this is useful in addressing your concerns, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for providing your feedback to us.

Yours sincerely

Michelle Dillon

Executive Director

Princess Margaret Hospital for Children