EMMERDALE actress Leah Bracknell has blasted the hospital meals she’s had since being treated for cancer as she highlights the lack of NHS funding for food.
The 55-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2016 but has defied the odds to survive – and yesterday revealed she has decided to ignore doctors and is hoping for a miracle instead.
Today the star – best known for playing Zoe Tate on the ITV soap – has shared part of her hospital journey with fans by showing them what she has been eating.
Alongside a series of pictures, she wrote: “Over the next few days I shall be sharing pics of the NHS meals wat (sic) I have had!
“Being as it’s in the news and on the menu so to speak – and high time too. With £1.32 spent on each NHS meal compared to £2.02 spent in the prison service.
“I have documented them over the last few years to illicit sympathy from friends and family during my medical incarcerations. My mum thought this was a prawn korma! Wishful thinking mum. #nhsmeals #foodismedicinetoo. #nutritionfreemeals #nhs.”
Her followers were shocked by the food she showed – including a shepherds pie and macaroni cheese.
One person wrote: “Looks pretty grim”, while another added: “Think I would be ordering food in ! I wouldn’t be able to eat that!”
In the past campaigners have blasted the NHS after it emerged jailed criminals are being fed better than sick hospital patients.
Hospitals spend just £1.37 per meal for each patient – meanwhile the Prison Services spend £2.02 on feeding convicts.
The shocking figures, released in 2017, sparked calls from MPs for a review of food and nutrition in the NHS.
Great British Bake Off star Prue Leith also slammed the “inedible” NHS food – claiming it prevents patients from recovering from illnesses.
Prue, 79, who replaced Mary Berry on Bake Off, hit out at the “foul-smelling sludge” served in hospitals.
In a column for The Oldie magazine, she blasted £1.49 per meal budgets but added: “That’s not an excuse for inedible meals.”
She added: “Health ministers, doctors and administrators need to be convinced that good food is medicine.”
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