Prince Charles Wants Organic in Hospitals

"Prince Charles will wade into the debate about hospital food this week when he tells NHS leaders that patients deserve good-quality meals from locally sourced produce rather than cheap dinners that are trucked in and reheated.

In a visit to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, the prince will highlight the importance of the health service using organic foods and talk about the 'virtuous circle' created by using local produce. 'Food miles are reduced, the food is fresh and local farmers and suppliers benefit,' he will tell chief executives. He will say it is 'crucial that food given to patients helps rather than risks hindering the process of recovery'.

The Royal Brompton, a specialist heart hospital in Chelsea, is a leader in the field of hospital nutrition. It spends £3 a day per patient - three times more than some hospitals. A spokeswoman said: 'We cook our food on the premises using fresh ingredients, not ready meals. We have a head chef whom we recruited from outside the NHS, a fully equipped kitchen and skilled staff, including a trained pastry chef."

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