A 12-year-old girl from Derby who has spent years in hospital wants one thing changed, the food on the tray.

Audrina has launched a petition calling for better hospital meals, saying the food served to patients is often poor quality and lacks the nutrients people need while recovering.

She said that while she received excellent care from doctors and nurses during treatment, the meals often left her disappointed.

Audrina was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2018 and is now cancer-free after completing treatment. Since being given the all-clear at the age of five, she has spent more time in hospital with cyclic vomiting syndrome. She said the food has not improved.

“The food is often lacking nutrition and it’s important that patients have something to look forward to when they’re going through a really tough time,” she said.

“If you don’t have the vitamins, minerals and proteins your body needs, it’s going to slow your recovery down.

“I remember having a shepherd’s pie and the mash was brown and burnt – and it was just served in the plastic pot it had been microwaved in.”

Her mother, Gemma, said Audrina has long wanted to change that.

“We’re just over 500 signatures but she’s got to get to 100,000 [to be considered for Parliamentary debate] so there’s a really long way to go yet,” she said.

Audrina has also started a series on Instagram called £1 meals. Gemma said it would show hospitals that healthy food does not have to cost more.

“She’s going to be showing examples of meals which are healthy and tasty as well, so that hospitals can see they don’t necessarily need to spend more money to get decent food,” she said.

Audrina said the videos would back up her campaign.

“It’s alright saying you can do this, but sometimes you need the proof. This will achieve that proof and that evidence,” she said.

She has suggested hospitals make better use of locally sourced produce and community support. She has also proposed growing fruit and vegetables on hospital sites to provide fresher food.

The petition has also drawn support from Labour MP Jonathan Davies, the member for Mid Derbyshire, who said he heard about it while knocking on doors in his constituency.

“I was really inspired by Audrina’s energy and enthusiasm, informed by her personal experience of spending quite long period’s of time in hospital,” he said.

“I said I’d get behind her campaign and make sure ministers heard what she had to say.”

Audrina has already visited the Houses of Parliament as part of the campaign and hopes Davies can help her speak to the prime minister.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We want every hospital patient to receive food that is appetising and supports their recovery.

“Hospital food in England is already subject to national standards, covering nutrition, safety and quality and we welcome ideas from campaigners like Audrina on how hospital food – especially for young people – can be improved.”

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