A vegan patient has spoken of her upset after claiming she was left in a Brighton hospital bed with nothing to eat but ginger nut biscuits.
Jenny Skelton said she was left lying in a bed at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, with nothing but a flask of tea she had brought from home while those around her ate their dinners.
The mother of three said her stay made her feel like a 'second class citizen', particularly in a city 'where there are so many vegans'.
The hospital said it offers vegan options '365 days a year' but apologised 'if, on this occasion, the patient was unable to receive their preferred option'.
Jenny was taken to hospital by ambulance on Monday after suffering chest pains from what she thought was a chest infection, but was actually undiagnosed Covid-19.
She did not take any food with her as she assumed she would only be there for a few hours to be checked over, but she was instead admitted to the acute admissions unit.
Jenny said, while she was on the ward, a nurse came round to take everyone's food order and she claimed there was 'nothing for vegans'.
Jenny, who is from Brighton, said: 'In this day and age, particularly in Brighton where there are so many vegans, it is unacceptable.
'Why can’t they stock a few frozen vegan meals just in case?
'I am not supposed to leave until I have been given fluids intravenously and eaten some food but how am I supposed to eat when there is nothing?
'There are thousands of vegans in Brighton and I feel it is discriminatory not to have anything for us at all.'
Jenny Skelton said she was left lying in a bed at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, with nothing but a flask of tea she had brought from home while those around her ate their dinners
Jenny, who has since been discharged from hospital, shared her experience online and vowed to take it up with the hospital
After being told there was no vegan option for dinner, Jenny said a nurse advised her to go to a vending machine where there may be something vegan.
She said she felt 'slightly miffed' about having to pay for her food but was relieved to find a vegan snack in the machine.
However, she claims the machine took her money three times without giving her the food, leaving her to eat dry crackers.
'I didn’t want to come
