CONCERNS have been raised over ‘disaster plans’ for patients’ dietary requirements at a hospital after ‘pitiful’ scenes caused by another kitchen closure.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Basingstoke Hospital’s kitchen was forced to close in August for a period of time after a burst pipe under the building had led to a ‘strong’ and ‘unpleasant’ smell lingering.

After the initial closure on August 29, the kitchen has been closed a further three times, leaving patients with no access to hot food, and only being offered a selection of sandwiches.

Tim Colman, who has recently been a patient at the hospital, said the whole situation was ‘horrific’.

He said: “I am a Type 2 diabetic and I was told that during the kitchen closure they were unable to cater for specific dietary requirements.

“They had a month to put some form of contingency plan in place if they were to close the kitchen again, but it doesn’t seem like this was done.

“I couldn’t even get a hot drink, and there was a queue coming out the door of the Costa on the ground floor with people who were pushing around their drips. The whole thing was pitiful.”

Wendy Coombe, whose mother is receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia, said that for her mother not to be able to have a hot meal was not acceptable.

She said: “This is no fault of the hospital staff as they have been absolutely fantastic, but when you are in hospital for a long time you have certain expectations.

“As my mum has lost her appetite she still forces herself to eat, but when your only options is dry sandwiches it is off putting. When you asked staff if they were getting a hot meal you were given the answer you might, you might not.”

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said since the burst pipe there have been on going issues, but contingency plans are now in place.

Alex Whitfield, trust chief executive, said: “One of the resulting issues has been an increase in the number of flies present in the kitchen and restaurant areas. In order to combat this, we decided to close the kitchen on October 5 and 6, allowing the area to be professionally treated and deep cleaned.

“Our catering team have worked closely with our local environmental health officers, as well as our own infection control team, to ensure that the food being served to our patients and in the restaurant complies with the highest safety standards.

“Contingency plans are being put in place to ensure we are able to manage the situation if further and more extensive work is required.

“I’d like to thank all of our patients, visitors and staff for their patience and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”