My dog would walk away

I'd like to make a complaint of a few things in the month in a half that my mom was in the Kelowna General Hospital.

When she arrived on a late Friday evening in May, she was well looked after in the emergency department with good food that was prepared for her in the emergency department, as well as others in the emergency room with a cart that was like a smorgasbord and clients would choose what they would like, until she was moved upstairs. The care that was given was fabulous but, the food was unreal horrible. This is my complaint!

When my mom was moved upstairs, I came into her room and stated "what the heck was this smell?" I proceeded to look on the plate and mom stated, "I can't eat that.” I stated, neither would I. Then the next day, I decided to bring her meals. She was so weak and the food they were serving was unbelievably gross! As my sister and I made plans to bring mom food at the hospital everyday, for a month and 2 weeks. Why? Because, if you saw what was served, there aren’t any words to describe it. The meat loaf looked like dark chocolate cake with gravy, and was shiny. Another dish was apparently shepherd's pie that looked like left over meat loaf. This what they serve? If no one touched their meat loaf it was recycled?Another was a chicken dish that didn't even look like chicken at all! One person was sick on the mac and cheese that was served. Now how can one screw up mac and cheese? Another client was in the same room as my mom, and was praying to god stating "he was going to die in the hospital because he can't eat this food." Now doesn't that say all!

One day, I went to the fridge to get my moms meal I prepared for her at home and and maybe three trays were nibbled at and others were untouched. Now think of everyone's tax dollars being thrown out the door in the trash! Many people looked at their family members plates that were served and didn't like it. I thought to heck with this, I am going to complain about the hospital food and stick up for the clients that want to go back home and can't as they can't eat the food. To eat, one will get healthy. The medical system complains because there isn't any room for extra people as rooms are all full and people are out on the floors in hallways. Many aren't as lucky as my mom was, with my sister and some family and friends bringing her stuff to eat, other wise she would be waisting away to nothing and dying in there, or not leaving at all!

I'd like to see the Premier of B.C. and the legislature have their menu with the clients in hospitals across B.C. for a week. Breakfast, lunch and supper, and see how they appear in a few days!

Now, mom has transferred to Cottonwoods in Kelowna and the food there is awesome. It looks appetizing, smells awesome and tastes great! There's something wrong with this picture.

People need to standup for their loved ones if they want them to get out of hospitals.

Cindy Weitzel