FORMER patients have leapt to the defence of an Oxford hospital criticised in a television exposé about the standard of NHS food.

The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington was featured last week on a Channel 4 Dispatches programme featuring freelance journalist Mark Sparrow.

Mr Sparrow spent 10 weeks in traction at the hospital in 2009 after he contracted an infection in his leg.

Despite describing his care as ‘fabulous’ he claimed the food was so bad he felt compelled to set up a blog to record his experiences.

At one point it was amassing 26,000 hits a day from people all over the world.

But after watching the documentary, former patients of the NOC have contacted the Oxford Mail to defend the hospital and tell their own experiences of the food there.

George Mellis, of Garsington, was admitted as an inpatient at the NOC when he underwent a knee replacement.

He said: “I was at the hospital in 1998 and then again before Christmas last year and both times I thought the food was actually very good. I was impressed.”

David Hutton, of Thame, also underwent a knee replacement before Christmas.

The 71-year-old said: “I have had umpteen breaks over the years and have been in the NOC a few times. And I could not fault the food, the care, or the service.

“There was a good selection, quantity and quality.

“I could even order a snack box to keep me going if I wanted to, which I did.

“I thought it was quite unfair.”

Christine Ashmore, of Eynsham, said she had felt ‘quite angry’ when the hospital was criticised.

The 70-year-old said: “I was in there for a hip operation and I thought the nursing and food was very good.

“There was plenty of choice and I don’t think there was anything on offer that I didn’t like.”

NOC head of nursing Rachel Mellor said: “The quality and nutritional value of our patient meals is a top priority.

“All menus are reviewed and agreed by a dietician while nursing and catering staff work closely together to ensure patients receive healthy and balanced meal choices.

“Particular care is taken to ensure alternative options to the daily menu are always available should a patient request it.”