A Glasgow teenager has slammed the 'foul' food she was served during a stint at a hospital in the city, and claims she was even given the wrong medication on her departure.
Abigail Reid spent five nights at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after being admitted on Tuesday of last week over a serious Tonsillitis issue following a referral from her local GP. During her stint at the troubled super hospital, she complained to her dad about the 'atrocious' food, which she said was of such poor quality she was left unable to discern what it even was.
She told Glasgow Live: "I had a really bad throat so I wasn't eating much. There were a lot of times where people would come round with the iPad and ask what I wanted for lunch and dinner.
"I remember once asking for a baked potato and tuna and I never once saw one, it was either nothing was turning up or when it did it wasn't what I asked for. What was turning up was foul.
READ MORE: Glasgow-bound easyJet flight declares emergency shortly after takeoff from Faro
"I'm very understanding and I hate complaining. I know it's a massive hospital and they've got so many patients to feed and it's not going to be nice food, everyone knows that.
"But the food was foul. It was hard and mushy and just not very nice at all.
"The portions seemed like a tablespoon in size. I could only get out if I ate something but I wasn't a) getting anything I asked for and b) when it was coming it wasn't good at all."
Despite her dad raising a complaint with hospital management, the 17-year-old claims that her father's concerns went unanswered.
She said: "My dad tried to phone up the hospital manager and they really weren't interested in doing anything to help at all. I'm told the conversation ended quite quickly because they weren't up for doing anything to help."
And Abigail further alleges that, to add insult to injury, she was then prescribed penicillin by medics on her departure - which she is allergic to.
She added: "Another thing is they prescribed me medication to take, penicillin. I've consistently been telling them that I'm allergic to penicillin, it's on my records.
"I've been allergic since I was a baby. It was just pure chaos.
"It was 80 tablets I was given so it was quite a long course of antibiotics and considering it was something I'm allergic too that's quite a bad mistake. Luckily I was curious and looked at my prescription and saw it said penicillin.
"Today at a different hospital for something else I said to the nurse I was quite concerned that I'd been given something I was allergic too and she phoned up straight away and said to them. It's just been a mistake.
"But God knows what would have happened if I had taken them and had a bad reaction."
In response, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We are sorry to hear this patient was unhappy with her experience and would welcome a follow up conversation with her for more feedback. We are committed to continually improving patient experience and providing enjoyable, nutritious food to the 5,600 patients served daily.
"A two-week rotating menu enables patients to choose from a variety of meals based on their personal preferences and also that of their families and carers, ensuring food served is tailored to their needs. If a patient wishes to provide any feedback or is unhappy with their food, we actively encourage them to raise this with us directly through nursing or catering staff, through our online feedback forms, or, via the ‘Food and Health in Hospital’ form given to them as part of their stay.
"This ensures that we can act quickly to make appropriate changes when required. Regarding prescriptions, we are sorry Ms Reid has this experience while in our care and we can confirm a review is underway to ensure this does not happen again with any other patients.”
READ NEXT
- Glasgow police in witness appeal as man seen masturbating on train bound for Queen Street
- Glasgow city centre lane sealed off by police after 'disturbance' near Buchanan Street
- Glasgow's River Clyde 'boggin' as used condoms spotted among sewage
- Glasgow train brawl leaves pair bloodied as police launch appeal for witnesses
- Police Scotland ordered to publish Rangers' fans' 'shameful' title party discussions
