IRISH hospital food is set to get a new and improved menu – after it was revealed that one hospital spent less than a euro per meal.

A new food, nutrition and hydration policy will be introduced next year by the HSE in conjunction with the Department of Health and Healthy Ireland.

The policy is expected to include improved food choices on all menus, access to regular meals and snacks and replacement meals if a patient misses one.

The menu revamp will minimise fasting times and interruptions at meal times.

Patients have complained for years about poor nutritional options, and the difficulty of getting food in between meal times.

The department has been criticised in the past after it was revealed that in 2015, Portlaoise Hospital spent 94c per meal on average.

The measly plate of a slice of ham and grated cheese was considered a meal in the Mater Hospital.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said: “The new policy will allow for improved food choice on all menus, and access to regular meals and snacks.

“It will also include access to meal replacements if a patient misses a meal, minimising fasting times and interruptions at meal times,” Harris told Independent.ie.

“The new policy will include improved food choice on all menus, and access to regular meals and snacks is provided to all, from admission to discharge.”

Harris said the benefits are “endless” and that when patients have access to high quality food it will aid their recovery.