Fianna Fáil Councillor Alan Cheevers has called on the HSE to urgently clarify why a number of patients at University Hospital Galway are, in some cases, being left without hot meals during their stay.
Cllr Cheevers said he has been contacted by several families who have raised serious concerns about the standard of meal provision in the hospital. According to those who have contacted him, some patients are being served only soup and sandwiches at weekends instead of a hot meal, while similar reports have also emerged relating to certain weekdays.
Describing the situation as deeply concerning, Cllr Cheevers said families are worried that vulnerable patients are not receiving the nutrition they need while recovering in hospital.
“I have received a number of calls from families who are deeply concerned that patients are only being given soup and sandwiches at weekends instead of a proper hot meal,” he said. “I have also been told that this is happening on some weekdays, which is extremely worrying.”
He said that while hospitals face ongoing operational pressures, ensuring patients have access to nutritious meals should remain a basic standard of care.
“This is simply not acceptable,” Cllr Cheevers said. “Patients in hospital, particularly older and more vulnerable people, need proper nourishment to aid their recovery and maintain their health. They should not be left without a hot meal.”
The Galway councillor is now calling on both the HSE and the management of University Hospital Galway to clarify the current arrangements for patient meals and explain whether hot meals are being provided consistently throughout the week.
He also urged hospital management to address any shortcomings identified and ensure that all patients receive the level of care and nutrition they are entitled to.
“I am calling on the HSE and the management at University Hospital Galway to urgently clarify the current position regarding meal provision for patients and to ensure that every patient receives the standard of care and nutrition they deserve,” he said.
Cllr Cheevers said patients and their families deserve reassurance that adequate nutrition is being provided every day, including weekends. He added that any gaps in meal provision should be addressed without delay, stressing that access to proper nutrition is a fundamental part of patient care and recovery.
The HSE has been asked to clarify its current policy on meal provision at University Hospital Galway and whether any changes have been made to the availability of hot meals for patients.
