[T]oday, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (NCUH) has taken the unusual step of issuing a press release to set the public record straight after the News and Star has published a front page headline that is inaccurate.
As the county has been coping with the extreme weather, staff working in local NHS services have continued to go above and beyond over the weekend. In line with all NHS organisations, NCUH has business continuity plans which are implemented during circumstances such as adverse weather conditions. The Trust was unable to receive a delivery from a food supplier on Friday therefore alternative arrangements were made yesterday (Sunday 4 March).
A spokesman for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The menu was altered but all patients were offered soup, sandwiches and snacks at lunchtime and a hot meal in the evening.
“This was explained to the News and Star, and we were clear that patients may not get the choice of food they had made but hot food was still being offered. As the delivery has yet to arrive, we are continuing with alternative arrangements today (Monday 5 March).
“To headline a story ‘Patients left with yoghurt for lunch’ is inaccurate and undermines the hard work of our NHS staff who have gone the extra mile to ensure patients have had the right care during the recent extreme weather.
“After the lengths our teams have gone to over recent days, some walking miles in the snow to get to work, we are very disappointed that this is how our local community newspaper is portraying our NHS.
“We would like to formally put on record our appreciation for the amazing efforts made by our NHS and social care teams and the heroic efforts of our emergency and voluntary services in helping our communities and supporting medical staff and supplies to reach vulnerable patients.
“We would also like to thank our patients for the flexibility and patience they have shown while we have been coping with these exceptional circumstances.”
