A study on 324 patients at the St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney, published in the journal Nutrition & Dietetics, found 42.3 per cent of new patients were malnourished on arrival. Only one of these patients had their malnourishment mentioned in their medical records, and only 21 were referred for measures to improve their nutrition. Does this tell you something about hospital and doctors' attitude to the link between health and food.

If you value the health of your loved one then provide them with freshly prepared nutritious food that will speed their recover and not hamper it. The bulk food provided in hospitals is absurdly poor and is a product of "efficiencies". Our research has demonstrated just how quickly good food will speed recovery. In fairness some doctors do recognize the problem. Gastroenterologist Professor Terry Bolin expressed the view that doctors failed to realize that poor nutrition may be lengthening hospital stays by 50 percent.