'He can't eat it': Orange Hospital food slammed by patient's family member Rhonda Marston

Rhonda Marston said family members had been delivering meals to the man since he arrived in Orange for rehabilitation in early December.

"He's supposed to be on a high-protein diet and we're trying to get him to put weight on but he can't eat the food," Mrs Marston, who has been communicating with her brother from Newcastle, said adding she didn't blame the hospital staff.

A statement from the Western NSW Local Health District said the meals were nutritiously sound.

"We regret if any patients have been left unsatisfied by any meal prepared in one of our facilities, or if the presentation of any meals does not reach expected standards," the statement reads.

"Every meal served to patients in facilities across Western NSW Local Health District are prepared under strict protocols to ensure what is provided to patients meets health and nutritional standards, and meals are also made to meet specific dietary requirements."

The hospital would make no further comment regarding catering.

Mrs Marston said her brother, who lives in Cabonne, was not a fussy eater

"[He tells me] it just tastes terrible. The meat is the meat you get from delis that you put in sandwiches.

"I mean, they can't have visitors on Christmas Day, they can't have visitors at all," Mrs Marston said.

"For him he's in a ward by himself, can't have visitors and that was his Christmas dinner."

Mrs Marston, who said her brother did not wish to complain, said the family had been delivering food to the hospital's front door now he was well enough to walk down and pick it up. He had also been consuming protein shakes.

"It's a shame, he had his surgery in St Vincent's Hospital and said the food there was amazing and that wasn't cooked on site as far as I know."

Mrs Marston has also sent her food pictures to Member for Orange Phil Donato.

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