Bringing Food into Hospital

Friends and relatives in hospital enjoy receiving presents of fruit, drinks and confectionary. However it is important to ensure that all items brought into the ward for consumption are both suitable and safe.

Outbreaks of food poisoning in hospitals have been linked to homemade foods, particularly those containing cream.

What to bring in

• Fizzy and non-fizzy drinks including fruit squash
• Biscuits brought in should be preferably in a wrapper or kept in an air-tight container to keep them fresh.
• Fruit brought into the ward by visitors such as grapes and apples should be washed prior to bringing them into hospital.
• Chocolates, wrapped sweets and crisps.

Check that any bought items external wrapper is not torn. Check that the "Best Before" and "Use By" dates have not been exceeded.

Things to bear in mind

• There is limited storage in ward areas so only bring in small quantities of food.
• Wards do not have facilities to prepare or reheat food for patients.

NHS Forth Valley cannot accept responsibility for foods prepared at home. Any home prepared foods cannot be accepted for general distribution to other patients and residents