Brendan Simpkins

FOOTAGE has emerged of sub-standard food being served to a terminally-ill patient at the Gawler Hospital, prompting backlash from the community.

Last Wednesday, Member for Light Tony Piccolo posted a video to his Facebook page of an inedible toasted cheese sandwich made with stale bread that was served to 82-year-old Anne Morgan.

The footage was provided to Mr Piccolo by Mrs Morgan’s daughter Anne Foster.

In the video, Ms Foster can be seen banging the rock-solid sandwich against the plate.

Mrs Morgan was admitted to the hospital via the emergency department at 5.30pm the day prior but was not placed into a ward bed until 4am the next morning.

She has emphysema and has been told she is unlikely to live for more than a few months.

Ms Foster said the meal was the “last straw”.

“It was disgusting, and it actually brought tears to my eyes,” she said.

The video has been viewed more than 4000 times and received widespread condemnation, with many sharing similar experiences.

A spokesperson for SA Health told The Bunyip that a new oven has recently been purchased for the hospital which has resulted in a change to the way the toasted sandwiches are prepared.

They said the department was making sure training was being rolled out to get the item back on the menu.

Mr Piccolo called on the minister for health Stephen Wade to front up to the incident.

“I am asking the minister for health whether he thinks this is a suitable way to treat a patient in our public health system,” he said.

“The cuts to the health budget hurt real people. All patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”

Mr Wade said the hospital was committed to improving their quality of care following the incident.

“I know Gawler Hospital aspires to provide the best quality care to its patients on every occasion, and the hospital was disappointed when it fell short of the expectations of its patients,” he
said.

“Every time I visit there I am impressed by their determination to provide first-class care, I know they will continue to strive to do that.”

A statement from Gawler Hospital provided to The Bunyip stated that staff worked hard to ensure high-quality food was served to patients.

“We apologise that the food supplied did not meet our high standards in this instance,” it read.

Approximately 27,500 meals are served at the hospital each year.

The SA Health spokesperson said no formal complaints had been received recently regarding the food served at the hospital.