Girl, 12, campaigns for healthier hospital food

A 12-year-old girl who spent time in hospital battling an aggressive form of cancer has launched a petition calling for improvements to the food dished up to patients.

Audrina, from Derby, said despite receiving excellent care from doctors and nurses during her treatment, the food she was served often left her disappointed.

She described the meals as tasteless and lacking in important nutrients she believes patients need while recovering. Now she is urging the UK government to take action to raise standards.

The Department for Health and Social Care said it welcomed ideas from campaigners like Audrina on how hospital food can be improved.

Audrina was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2018 but is now cancer-free after completing her treatment.

However, despite being given the all-clear at the age of five, she has spent further time in hospital with another condition, cyclic vomiting syndrome.

In this time, she says she feels hospital meals have not improved.

"The food is often lacking nutrition and it's important that patients have something to look forward to when they're going through a really tough time," she said.

"If you don't have the vitamins, minerals and proteins your body needs, it's going to slow your recovery down.

"I remember having a shepherd's pie and the mash was brown and burnt - and it was just served in the plastic pot it had been microwaved in."

Her mother, Gemma, says Audrina has always hated hospital food and is determined to bring about change.

"We're just over 500 signatures but she's got to get to 100,000 [to be considered for Parliamentary debate] so there's a really long way to go yet," she said.

Audrina has also launched a new series on Instagram called £1 meals.

Gemma said: "She's going to be showing examples of meals which are healthy and tasty as well, so that hospitals can see they don't necessarily need to spend more money to get decent food."

Audrina hopes the videos will help with her campaign.

"It's alright saying you can do this, but sometimes you need the proof. This will achieve that proof and that evidence," she said.

Audrina believes hospitals could make better use of locally-sourced produce and community support.

She has also suggested growing fruit and vegetables at hospital sites as one possible way of providing fresher food.

The petition has grabbed the attention of Jonathan Davies, Labour MP for Mid Derbyshire, who said he found out about it while knocking on his constituents' doors.

"I was really inspired by Audrina's energy and enthusiasm, informed by her personal experience of spending quite long period's of time in hospital," he said.

"I said I'd get behind her campaign and make sure ministers heard what she had to say."

Audrina has already visited the Houses of Parliament as part of her work and is hoping Davies can help her speak to the prime minster about the campaign.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We want every hospital patient to receive food that is appetising and supports their recovery.

"Hospital food in England is already subject to national standards, covering nutrition, safety and quality and we welcome ideas from campaigners like Audrina on how hospital food - especially for young people - can be improved."

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