There has been a surge in demand for food delivery services to famished patients recuperating in hospitals – private and public – across Sydney.
And it appears that dumplings, sandwiches, salads, burgers, Thai and Vietnamese meals are the most popular takeaways delivered, reports the Daily Telegraph.
However, food delivery providers, including Deliveroo, Foodora and UberEats, are not merely dropping off meals at the front door – drivers are personally handing out orders on particular floors in hospital wards, as specified in patients’ instructions.
Foodora said that its services were particularly popular at St Vincent’s Hospital, above
Their service extends to visiting relatives and even medical staff, possibly because of the unappetising food on offer at hospitals in the city
Their service is extended to visiting relatives and even medical staff, possibly because of the unappetising food on offer at hospitals in the city.
Foodora said that its services are particularly popular at St Vincent’s Hospital, followed by Prince of Wales and RPA.
But demand has also risen at Westmead Private Hospital, Sydney Eye and Manly hospitals, along with Royal North Shore and the Sydney Children’s Hospital.
People undergoing rehabilitation for weeks on St Vincent’s orthopaedics ward are particularly keen on the food delivery services, said a hospital spokesman.
Bedside food delivery services are also provided by Deliveroo
Bedside food delivery services are also provided by Deliveroo, a spokeswoman confirmed, but only if they were allowed by the hospital.
A HealthShare NSW spokeswoman said patients were ‘encouraged’ to speak with medical staff before ordering takeaway meals, to check the food did not impeded their recovery.
She said: ‘In general, food can be delivered to hospitals by the external food supplier or delivery service during visiting hours and in accordance with patient/family instructions.
‘Each hospital is responsible for managing access.’