Hospital Food Campaign and the Which? Report

Following today's news of the Which? Report on Hospital Food, Coeliac UK sent out a press release on the matter as part of our Hospital Food Campaign.

The full press release reads as follows:

Gluten-free Hospital food is below standard says Coeliac UK

Commenting on Which? research on Hospital Food, Coeliac UK, the charity for people with coeliac disease is calling for increased awareness among hospital caterers and better training  to provide meals for patients with special diets.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten, The only medication is a strict gluten-free diet for life.
In a survey of Hospital Caterers conducted by Coeliac UK in association with the HCA (Hospital Caterers Association) in November 2007, 72% of respondents wanted a resource pack to help them to provide meals for people with coeliac disease in hospital and 75% said that guidelines were needed.

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive of Coeliac UK said, "The provision and standard of gluten-free food in hospitals varies enormously. We know this is a huge problem for people with coeliac disease. We want hospital caterers to be better trained, dietitians better educated and ward staff better informed. Coeliac disease, if left untreated, can lead to osteoporosis and bowel cancer. The delivery of a high quality, balanced gluten-free diet in the very place that is seeking to improve people's health, the hospital, is fundamental."

Commenting on the forthcoming introduction of Food Standards Agency guidelines, Sarah Sleet says: "We are looking forward to the publishing of the Food Standard Agency's guidelines on the handling of allergens in loose foods in early 2008 and we are also working specifically with hospital caterers to launch a toolkit on gluten-free catering."