NHS chiefs apologised today after care home residents were fed McDonald’s instead of a home-cooked meal.
The fast food fiasco arose when the in-house chef at Invernevis House Care Home in Fort William, Inverness-shire, was absent.
Staff rushed to the takeaway chain to buy an assortment of greasy food including chicken nuggets and french fries for the OAPs instead of following usual catering arrangements.
One concerned relative said: “The residents, around 25-30, were gathered in the dining room but there was no sign of any food coming.
“In the end, one of the Invernevis staff took it into their own hands, nipped to McDonald’s and came back with chicken nuggets and chips for everyone.
“I’m told some of the elderly folks looked at the plate and wondered what on earth was going on.”
A request should have been made to nearby Belford Hospital for their canteen to provide meals but this did not happen thanks to NHS “miscommunication”.
A spokesman for NHS Highland said: “Normally, when the chef is unable to come in for whatever reason the manager puts a request to Belford Hospital.
“We would like to apologise for a situation which arose at the Invernevis House Care Home on Friday December 27.
“As a result of a breakdown in communication and an error of judgement, the established procedures were not followed.”
NHS Highland’s Lochaber district manager, Joanna Hynd (CORR), added: “The priority of the care home manager was to ensure residents had something to eat.
“There will be a review of decisions taken.”
