Ex-Yatala inmate gives his review amid South Australia’s great hospital food debate

The outcry over the stomach-churning meals served to patients in hospital can’t match the fare on offer in another state institution, a former resident says.

A social media storm led by Port Pirie Hospital patient Steve Lewis about the quality of hospital food has led to one commenter likening the dishes to prison fare.

But now a former Yatala inmate, who doesn’t want to be named, has weighed in on the debate saying patients would be “begging for hospital food” inside prison.

The former inmate told The Advertiser prisoners, who are allocated $9 each for food a day, were served plain carbohydrate-based dishes, such as rice with a small amount of chicken or pasta with a spoonful of red sauce.

“You can live on it, but it’s pretty shocking … one in every four or five meals would be nutritionally balanced, but otherwise it was just carbs,” they said.

A Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman said prisoners were allocated $9 a day each for food in the 2023-24 financial year.

“Departmentally grown produce and processed items are used in preference to items that are bought from external suppliers,” the spokeswoman said.

“A number of prisons grow their own herbs and vegetables for consumption.

Gawler hospital’s entry. Picture: Michaela Dawn

An offering from the WCH. Picture: Hayley O'Loughlin

A meal at Modbury. Picture: Charlotte Baxter

“The bakery at Mobilong Prison provides bread to the majority of prisons across the state and the milk produced at the Cadell Training Centre dairy is consumed at all prisons across the state.”

SA Health was unable to confirm how much money was allocated per patient for food each day but said in a statement they set nutritional standards aimed to ensure food offered in hospital would help recovery and maintain good nutritional status.

Lunch at Lyell McEwin Hospital. Picture: Kelly Bennett

SA Dodgy Hospital Food: Gawler (Michaela Dawn)

“There are a range of factors that influence the cost of a meal including the location of the hospital, whether the catering is done in-house or through a catering contract, as well as a patient’s medical, cultural, and religious circumstances,” the statement read.

“We always work to provide patients with a variety of safe and quality food that is appealing, enjoyable and nutritionally adequate.”

Fierce debate on the quality of hospital food continues on social media since Mr Lewis shared his recent regional hospital meal online this week.

Dinner at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Picture: Christine Freebairn

Breakfast at the WCH. Picture: Hayley O'Loughlin

With many social media users telling him to “stop complaining” after he was served boiled carrots, brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes and a crumbed schnitzel topped with gravy, others have sympathised with the man saying “those chefs should be embarrassed”.

Others have gone on to share their questionable hospital meals including Louise Jolly who posted her son-in-law’s Murray Bridge Hospital meal that another user called a “disgrace”.

Schnitzel for dinner at the Port Pirie Hospital. Picture: Facebook/South Aussie Schnitzel Review Group

A mysterious meal at the Flinders Medical Centre. Picture: Mel-Ash Crosby

Kelly Bennett posted her uneaten mystery sandwich after struggling to work out what was inside. While Megan Young shared one of the many “bad dishes” she’s received in hospital including a collection of vegetables at Modbury Hospital.

Louise Jolly shared the meal her son-in-law received at Murray Bridge Hospital. Picture: Facebook

Megan Young shared one of the many "bad dishes" she's had in hospital including this one at Modbury Hospital. Picture: Facebook

An opposition spokeswoman said “it’s always disappointing when a patient’s care falls below their expectations”.

“Unfortunately, Labor is continually dropping the ball when it comes to the basics in our health system – like the shortage of pillows for sick South Australians in hospital – so how can we possibly have any confidence they can address more significant issues, like their promise to fix ramping?”

Royal Adelaide Hospital schnitzel. Picture: Facebook/South Aussie Schnitzel Review Group

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton hit back saying it was pretty rich of the Liberals to complain about hospital food when there were hundreds of complaints about hospital food under their disastrous four years in office.

“Under the Liberals there was a woman who found glass in her meal, and even complaints of insects and larvae in food, and raw or uncooked fish,” she said.

“The Liberals shockingly introduced budget cuts for hospital catering services.

“In contrast to the Liberals’ cuts to hospitals we are investing $4.4 billion more in public health services.”