Meal protesters demand changes (+ video)

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt speaks to protesters outside Dunedin Hospital yesterday. Photos...
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt speaks to protesters outside Dunedin Hospital yesterday. Photos by Peter McIntosh.
Dunedin South MP Clare Curran speaks to the crowd.
Dunedin South MP Clare Curran speaks to the crowd.
Lisa Ashton (left) and her mother-in-law Christine Ashton, a Dunedin Hospital patient.
Lisa Ashton (left) and her mother-in-law Christine Ashton, a Dunedin Hospital patient.

The chant was loud and clear: "Kick Compass out''.

Undeterred by steady rain, more than 200 people protested outside Dunedin Hospital yesterday to demand the termination of the multinational's food contract at the Southern District Health Board.

But the board and the Compass Group are standing firm, both promptly issuing statements after the protest.

Compass hit out at the characterisation of its meals as "slop'', saying it was potentially demeaning to patients with special needs.

One protester, Christine Ashton, left her bed in a Dunedin Hospital ward to attend with members of her family.

Mrs Ashton and her family told the Otago Daily Times she had been in hospital for six weeks, and her family provided two meals per day, plus snacks, as the hospital food was inedible.

Real Meals Coalition spokeswoman Anna Huffstutler told the crowd a public meeting would be held in Dunedin in three weeks to present a petition to the health board.

Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said Labour was "standing with the community on this issue''.

Labour's deputy leader, Annette King, was to have been at the protest but was unable to attend.

Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar declared: "We have got to stop this contract going for 15 years''.

"The audacity of Compass to say that Dunedin [patients] are the only ones complaining,'' she told the crowd.

Another speaker, Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, said Otago and Southland were again standing together to fight for its health service.

Last time, it was in 2010 to retain neurosurgery.

"Where's [Dunedin Mayor] Dave Cull'', some chanted during a break in Mr Shadbolt's well-received speech.

Mr Cull's perceived indifference to the issue was noted on a couple of placards.

Protesters' signs also took aim at Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and his predecessor Tony Ryall.

Lauded as a "hero'' on one placard, John Chambers told the crowd he wanted to speak as a hospital doctor rather than a former health board member.

Dr Chambers was one of two board members who voted against the outsourcing.

Dr Chambers said "Christmas was cancelled'' last year under the Compass Group as there was no special festive meal with staff dressed up.

Staff had to make do with reheated meals on Christmas Day, and the canteen was shut.

As well as cries of "kick Compass out'' and "stop the slops'', the group chanted "sack Compass'' at one stage.

New Zealand First MP Ria Bond, mental health activist Scout Barbour-Evans and E tu union representative Andrew Tait also spoke to the crowd.

The Real Meals Coalition comprises opposition parties, unions, Grey Power and mental health activists.

It has been formed to call for the contract to be terminated.

Ange Ashton, who has been bringing her mother Christine meals each day in hospital, told the ODT the family had had to step in.

"Boiled fish'' was one of the "inedible'' meals served to her mother.

Miss Ashton claims hospital staff told the family they were right to supply their mothers' meals, as she would otherwise not receive adequate nutrition.

Women's, children's and public health nursing director Jenny Hanson said she was unable to comment on individual cases, but the hospital did not expect families to provide meals.

"Our process is that if a patient does not like their meal or can't eat it, they will be offered an alternative,'' Ms Hanson said.

Board chief executive Carole Heatly called for "balance'', as images of meals on social media were unrepresentative.

"We hear the concerns of those who have not had a good experience of food at the DHB.''

Compass had listened to feedback and had made improvements, she said.

In its statement, Compass said its meals were "good quality'', and most patients were satisfied, but the company acknowledged it had "not met everyone's expectations''.

"Texture modified diets are often prescribed for patients who have had strokes; depicting these meals as ‘slop' is potentially demeaning for someone who requires their food to be prepared in this way.

"Food quality has not and will not be compromised in order to deliver cost savings or to meet other performance measures,'' Compass said.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement