Written question asked by Baroness Miller of Hendon (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 January 2012.

NHS: Food

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average daily cost per patient of the food provided in each of the National Health Service Trust and Foundation Trust Hospitals, excluding the cost of preparing and delivering such food and other similar overhead expenses.

Answer: This information is not collected in the format requested. In 2010-11, the department collected data from National Health Service trusts for the average total daily cost for the provision of all meals and beverages fed to one patient per day. The average cost for all trusts in England for 2010-11 was £8.58, inclusive of all pay and non-pay costs, including provisions, ward issues, disposables, equipment and its maintenance. It is not possible to exclude the cost of preparing and delivering such food because only a total cost is collected. The available data for 2010-11 have been placed in the Library. The information has been supplied by the NHS and has not been amended centrally. The accuracy and completeness of the information is the responsibility of the provider organisation.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 14492; 734 c59-60WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2012-0014
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Subjects: Hospitals Food Per capita costs
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk