A REVIEW into hospital food has been announced by the government.

It will see the government work with the NHS to improve food quality in hospitals and provide consistently safe, nutritious and tasty food.

The review will also look at how to increase the number of hospitals with their own kitchens and who have their own chefs.

Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said: We all know how important the food we eat is to our health. We have a duty to ensure this same level of attention is given to the food served to patients in hospital, or our brilliant NHS staff working tirelessly for patients – and indeed to visitors."

The review follows the deaths of six people linked to an outbreak of listeria in contaminated food earlier this year.

It aims to improve public confidence in hospital food by setting out clear ambitions for delivering high-quality food to patients and the public.

The review will also consider new systems to monitor food safety and quality more transparently.

While it will also consider more healthy food options for NHS staff, particularly for those working overnight shifts.

Mr Hancock added: "I’m determined patients enjoy the best, most delicious and nutritious food to help them recover and leave hospital as quickly as possible."