Public fury over ‘prison-style’ meals served to kids in cancer ward

Daily Telegraph readers have erupted in anger after a photo revealed the meagre meal given to a child cancer patient at a major NSW hospital.

Supplied image of food that was served to a sick child at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. Picture: Supplied

Outrage has erupted among readers after The Daily Telegraph revealed a shocking image of a meal served to a young cancer patient at John Hunter Children’s Hospital, with commenters saying the food looks worse than what’s served in prisons.

The photo, showing a pale piece of chicken, a whole potato, a small smear of gravy and a yoghurt tub, has prompted hundreds of furious reactions, with many readers calling for NSW politicians and health bosses to be served the same meals themselves.

“Serve catered meals from the hospital in Parliament House to politicians – and to people in head offices of the Department of Health,” Judith said.

“They can actually experience what their departments sanction. This should be part of the approval process.”

John Hunter hospital. Photo: Supplied

Others echoed the comparison to the prison system.

“Prisoners in jail get fed better than that,” Andrew said.

“My brother was in jail and he told me every morning for breakfast they had a huge choice of cereals, muffins and fresh fruit — yet sick people in hospital get treated as afterthoughts.”

“Was that chicken? I couldn’t tell. It looked like an anemic chop with a smear of craft paint. Yuck. Poor little buggers. I bet you if they served that up at the parliament canteen, there would be a riot on their hands,” Kelly said.

“As a society, we sure have our priorities completely mixed up. This is disgusting,” another commenter wrote.

Others blamed budget cuts.

“A great example of ALP and its budget cuts,” Melissa said.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park. Picture: Thomas Lisson

The criticism follows an exclusive report revealing how child oncology patients at the Newcastle-based hospital were receiving food described by families as almost “inedible,” with one relative saying, “You wouldn’t serve this to a dog.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has since apologised, admitting the meal in question “does not reflect NSW Health or the community’s expectations.”

“I have sought urgent advice from HealthShare NSW to ensure meals provided at John Hunter Children’s Hospital meet these standards,” he said.

Under NSW Health’s own guidelines, food served in public hospitals should be “appetising, visually appealing, well presented, enjoyable and age appropriate.”

The Daily Telegraph has approached John Hunter Children’s Hospital for comment.

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