Former BBC Radio 6 DJ Liz Kershaw has been blasted by fans for moaning about hospital fish and chips.
The 67-year-old posted a photo of the plain meal, which included a piece of breaded fish, seven chunky chips and a spoonful of mushy peas, and questioned whether it was fit to help patients recover.
Taking to the social media platform, X, she said: ‘Hospital food for dinner in today’s @NHS
‘Six chips = carbs. Mushy peas = carbs. Breadcrumbed fish = carbs + some protein.
‘How is this supposed to fuel recovery in vulnerable, sick people?’
But her complaint sparked little sympathy, with many pointing out the strain NHS kitchens face and insisting the food was fine.
One user wrote: ‘There is nothing wrong with that food, people eat too much, and when they are given proper portions they complain about it, you get fed three meals a day in hospital plus dessert, tea, coffee, water.’
Another was far less polite, adding: ‘Carbs, a bit of veg and some protein. Stop whingeing, woman.’
Another shared their own experience, saying: ‘I had it several times when I spent ten weeks in hospital last summer. There’s nothing wrong with it at all, and other choices are available.’
‘Better to eat something than nothing. I’d also give that a go,’ another said.
And one chirped up, adding: ‘I don’t think hospital food has ever had a great reputation.
‘It’s a bit skimpy with the chips. Other than that… it looks ok.’
Another replied: ‘It’s perfectly adequate, and you can buy extra food if you need it? Fish and chips are nice.’
And another agreed, adding: ‘[To be honest] I don’t think that looks bad for hospital food. Not defending it particularly, but I’ve seen much worse. I wonder what the budget is per meal?’
Some agreed with the DJ, with one saying: ‘This is simply not enough in terms of food or nutrition to help vulnerable and unwell patients recover quickly.’
While it’s not clear which trust offered this food, hospitals are often forced to provide meals on shoestring budgets, and the amount spent per person varies from trust to trust.
Figures show University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust spent just £5.44 per patient per day on meals in 2022/23.
By contrast, a year earlier, patients at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust were allocated £14.40 worth of food daily.
Ms Kershaw’s first radio show was in 1981 on Radio Aire before she moved in 1985 to BBC Radio Leeds to present a weekly rock show showcasing local bands.
Two years later, she created Radio 1 show Backchat, before presenting the Radio 1 Evening Show and then Radio 1’s Weekend Breakfast Show and the Radio 1 Roadshow from 1989 to 1992.
But after being at the broadcaster for 20 years, she departed after her final show in June 2022, which sparked a row after she accused bosses of sacking her because she was older than 60.
A BBC insider rejected claims of sexism and ageism, pointing out that Kershaw had recently presented a four-episode Radio 2 series on the biggest-selling musical acts of the Queen’s reign as part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations.