Andrew Kay: Entitlement
Who said you can have it?
A recent bug sent me to my bed for five days, bed of course being a euphemism for bathroom. It was a tedious time made more tedious by the symptoms giving me blurred vision, which wiped out reading. This meant that I indulged, in my conscious moments, in watching the terror that is daytime TV.
There were of course a few highs, along with many very deep lows, and there were some interesting points along the way.
I loved seeing some classic BBC comedies, especially after the horror of Pompidou, Matt Lucas’ new series which I watched for a very sparse four minutes before turning him off in disgust. And at 6.30pm on a Sunday, I ask you?
Funnily enough it put Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em in a very good light. Rising Damp fared less well. The thinly veiled racism and homophobia – sorry, the irony simply does not stand the test of time – left me cold. I turned off On The Buses before my brain was liquified by the appalling stuff that once passed as family entertainment.
In the mornings one of my favourite TV chefs, James Martin, had a show about hospital food. It is clearly a worthy and well intentioned campaign and from what I can see he is doing a great job, turning round kitchens, taking them into profit, listening to patients and helping to save jobs. Well done James, in light of the constant erosion of the NHS thank heavens that there are people like you who are willing to invest their time and talent into making things better.
I just have one question, and I know I have asked it before but bear with me on this. Why is it that we assume that an organisation, created to cure the sick – and one that is currently in financial melt-down – should also feed us? Does it not make sense that when you are undergoing hospital treatment that requires a stay, you remain responsible for the food that you eat? It’s a hospital, not a hotel!!! (I seldom resort to three exclamation marks – but on this occasion, grrrrr).
One hospital chef said that he was working with a budget of £2.72 a day, per person, for their full day’s food needs. £2.72!!! (Sorry.)
We have MPs saying that they cannot survive on their annual stipend, then claiming astronomical expenses for restaurant breakfasts whilst at the same time some dedicated chef is trying to break even on £2.72 for three meals and teas and coffees.
“If anyone would like to pass this on to The Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, then please do”
I spent some time in hospital last year and the food was pretty grim, but came as part of my care package as I was out of the country. Had someone come around with a cash box and asked me for £2.72 a day for my meals, I would have opened my wallet and given them at least a fiver and been more than happy.
Oh I know some people cannot afford that, although how they live on less at home I fail to see. But for those of us who can, then the NHS needs to get real and start billing for the food. £5 a day, not a lot, and almost twice as much as that guy on the telly who was busting his gut to provide a good service and not go into deficit. It’s all about that sense of entitlement; I am sick therefore you must cure me and feed me. Well we’re not entitled, so shut up and cough up. If anyone would like to pass this on to The Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, then please do.
