Hospital food handling standards - to whom do you make a complaint/report

DH is working in a hospital in Melbourne (tradie) and was doing a job in the hospital kitchen today. What he described was utterly disgusting - hundreds of c0ckroaches just as a start! I suggested that he should inform the relevant authorities... but we can't figure out who that is.

Anyone know?

Dept of Health website just says to report to the local council where the 'food outlet' is based. But it's not a food outlet, so wondering whether it falls under a different body?

ETA. Really? Even bug-names get edited?!

Pretty sure it's still a food outlet and you contact the local council.

yuck!!

I think it's still the Council, maybe call the Department of Health.

which hospital??

Ewww yuck that is disgusting

Yup, you call the local Council.

Normally you would go through the local council otherwise the Victorian Department of Health, Public Health, Food Safety Hotline 1300 364 352

That is revolting, especially in a place serving food to a large population of vulnerable people

Can you tell us which one?

that sounds absolutely disgusting. i'd try the council first & go from there.

i'm so curious to know which hospital it is!

We had an issue with a foreign object in our food once, and we were told to hit the health department in our local council. They took it seriously and sorted things out.

I'm curious too. It's quite scary to think that so many sick people could also be eating contaminated food.

In WA we have a Health and disabilities services complaint office, you can contact them for complaints against particular staff, practices or policies etc about particular hospitals. Maybe google the same for your area.

Thanks ladies. Don't want to name and shame publicly lest I get myself or DH in hot water but let's just say that it's one of the biggest hospitals in Melb with an emphasis on treating trauma patients and yes, you'd think of all places they'd be on top of hygiene and health practices. Disgusting.

That is freakin' scary. I'd let the hospital bigshot know that you're going to be advising the council, and hopefully it'll be attacked from both sides.

your poor DH having to work there - hope he took lunch with him today!

and geez - i will be having my baby at one of those hospitals & will be back working at another one in jan. and i'm guessing it's the second one of those. might save myself some money on lunches though :lol:

Thanks again all. Complaint lodged with local council who said they will investigate immediately.

And don't worry Sloane, you won't be having a baby at this particular hospital.

I was just going to advise AGAINST naming the hospital publicly ;)

I'd probably put an official complaint in writing to the hospital as well.

I would write a formal complaint to the hospital and cc in the health minister's office as well.