Mother of cancer patient blasts the NHS for serving 'junk food' to kids: 'Completely hypocritical!'

Her son Teddy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2022 when he was just 18 month old, and undertook chemotherapy in hospital.

She told GB News: "The quality of the food just wasn't acceptable for someone going through an oncology journey.

"It's proven in science that when you're taking chemotherapies and all these really powerful drugs that are going to save your life, it depletes the body of all of its vital nutrients. What they were serving was substandard and completely hypocritical to their own policies.

She explained: "So it was things such as jacket potato, ultra processed cereals for breakfast, pizza and garlic bread. Just complete junk food.

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"I find it quite hypocritical that in one hand, they want to tell us as parents, feed your child five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

"Yet when you're in an inpatient hospital and they've got a duty of care to look after you because you cannot look after yourself, they won't provide you with that, or do anything to try and support you to make sure that you create good habits in hospital."

She added: "I understand that lots of people are picky eaters, but you can be a little bit creative still to get the good stuff in.

"At the end of the day, I do think there is a duty of care on the NHS, which is why we've set up the campaign to fuel the fight because they need support."

Determined to improve her son's nutrition, Sarah began creating gut-friendly recipes packed with fruits and vegetables.

She would prepare shepherd's pie with seven different vegetables, smoothies, homemade juices and a special mushroom "healing broth."

"I don't agree with budget holders in administrative functions making decisions on food," she explained.

While Sarah emphasises that conventional medicine saved her son's life, she believes nutrition plays a crucial role in recovery.

"Most people don't realise" the limited nutrition training doctors receive, she added, arguing that oncologists should focus on their speciality while proper nutritional expertise should guide hospital food policies.

A spokesperson at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust defended their food services, stating they have "specialised dietetics and catering teams" providing bespoke, fresh meals.

"Patients and families can discuss their dietary requirements and preferences with our team, who go above and beyond to deliver a variety of the best possible meals," they said.