Hospitals that serve their patients poor food face fines or even closure under government plans to revolutionise meals on NHS wards.
Ministers want NHS trusts to use fresher, locally sourced ingredients in their kitchens after official figures showed dozens of institutions offer poor or barely acceptable nutrition. Hospitals and care homes persistently failing to provide patients with a high enough standard could be issued warning notices of suspension or fines or be closed.
The radical move will be backed up by as yet unpublished Department of Health research into how healthy food on hospital wards can speed recovery.
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