Poll of the Day > Why is hospital food so ruthlessly expensive?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Not the food served to inpatients. But the food in the cafeteria in the hospital available to the public.

Some fancy hospitals have elaborate food eateries that serve foods from a variety of ethnic cuisines.

Literally paid $16 for a chicken schnitzel, fries, and a can of Coke. This is as bad as the airport.
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Because people will pay that much to not have to leave the hospital.
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adjl posted...

Because people will pay that much to not have to leave the hospital.

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Also hospital staff probably eats there and they price according to them. And they make a lot of money so...
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thecolorgreen posted...

Also hospital staff probably eats there and they price according to them. And they make a lot of money so...

We get a 15% discount at the hospital I work at.
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I don't think i've been in enough hospitals to compare but a couple months ago I paid 2.50 for a couple scoops of mashed potatoes because I was hungry but I had no money so that was all I got.
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I think the last time I was in a hospital I payed $10 for a slice of cold pizza and a bag of chips.
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To encourage people to take better care of themselves so they woudn't have to eat it.
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adjl posted...

Because people will pay that much to not have to leave the hospital.

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Lack of single payer system
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Backdoor funding for the hospital, usually.
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Because everything in hospitals are expensive.
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Zeus posted...

Backdoor funding for the hospital, usually.

Not even. The public hospitals here has privatised every other aspect of the hospital. Parking is owned and run by an external parking company. The food and beverage are run by a catering business and the stores/kiosks are managed by a third party real estate company.

Even patient TV and cable is run by a third party.

Just as a reference:
Pre-packaged ham and cheese sandwich: $5.50
Pre-packaged 'gourmet' chicken and avocado sandwich: $8.50
Pre-packaged California sushi roll: $4.50
Beef burger with fries and drink: $15.50
Sweet and sour chicken with fried rice: $13.90 (serving is tiny)
Beef kebab with tomato and lettuce: $12.90
Single serve pre-made Supreme pizza: $8.90
Baked beans with toast and butter: $4.50
Ham, eggs, toast, and butter: $9.50
Greek yogurt with frozen mixed berries: $6.50

The closest food place outside the hospital is a somewhat expensive cafe two minutes away and there is a Subway further down.
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is it tasty?
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Nomak-54 posted...

is it tasty?

Not for the price you pay. It seems their focus is in the optimisation of the preparation, shelf-life and logistics of the food rather than the taste.

They cook their fries right, but $8 for a plate is ridiculous.
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TC you should take pictures and stuff.
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The real reason is because they have to feed hundreds or thousands of people every day.

The hospital here has really inexpensive food. Like sandwiches for 2.50. Sometimes I'll grab a snack there if I have other business in the hospital. but you won't find anything fried or overly sugary there at all.
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My hospital has pretty affordable food, they are a nonprofit company though
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Why do hospitals always have so much unhealthy food?

Like, for real, I hate saying this but one of the best burgers and fries I've had was at a hospital.

3_1_1_FTW posted...

Zeus posted...

Backdoor funding for the hospital, usually.

Not even. The public hospitals here has privatised every other aspect of the hospital. Parking is owned and run by an external parking company. The food and beverage are run by a catering business and the stores/kiosks are managed by a third party real estate company.

Even patient TV and cable is run by a third party.

Just as a reference:
Pre-packaged ham and cheese sandwich: $5.50
Pre-packaged 'gourmet' chicken and avocado sandwich: $8.50
Pre-packaged California sushi roll: $4.50
Beef burger with fries and drink: $15.50
Sweet and sour chicken with fried rice: $13.90 (serving is tiny)
Beef kebab with tomato and lettuce: $12.90
Single serve pre-made Supreme pizza: $8.90
Baked beans with toast and butter: $4.50
Ham, eggs, toast, and butter: $9.50
Greek yogurt with frozen mixed berries: $6.50

The closest food place outside the hospital is a somewhat expensive cafe two minutes away and there is a Subway further down.

You're forgetting what the hospital likely charges in real estate to those vendors.
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3_1_1_FTW posted...

Beef burger with fries and drink: $15.50

Wtf they should be ashamed
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gravy posted...

Why do hospitals always have so much unhealthy food?

Like, for real, I hate saying this but one of the best burgers and fries I've had was at a hospital.

hm, must vary a lot. Hospitals that I have been to here only have healthy food. And it;s usually cheap.

but I imagine that with those being government run in a country with single payer healthcare, they have incentive to keep you healthy. And not gouge a captive audience with pricy unhealthy food.
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