Food not even worthy of a meal at Cité-de-la-Santé

A 63-year-old Laval resident invites the Premier, François Legault, and the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, to come and taste the “disgusting” food at the Cité-de-la-Santé hospital in Laval after being traumatized by this that was served to him.

“It’s not something you give to human beings. Even my cat, I don’t think he would eat that, ”said Gloria Santos indignantly.

She was hospitalized at the Cité-de-la-Santé in Laval last week following a nasty fall on the ice in her parking lot.

After a few days, Ms. Santos finally rushed her discharge from the hospital, because she could no longer eat the meals that were served to her.

She recounted, among other things, having eaten a chicken sandwich “that looked like vomit”, a “cold” tomato soup and “very dry” carrots with half a salmon croquette.


The salmon croquette and the dried carrots they served him.

Photo courtesy of Amanda-Marie Scolack

The salmon croquette and the dried carrots they served him.

Although she is lactose intolerant and does not eat pork, Santos believes this does not justify the poor quality of the meals she received.

“They should help us heal to get out of the hospital faster, but instead they give us chenoute,” she lamented.

The story repeats itself

The newspaper posted a month ago the story of Angelo Gagliano who had preferred to die at home because of the disgusting food he was served at the Cité-de-la-Santé.

Ms Santos’ daughter, Amanda-Marie Scolack, is convinced her mother’s case is “far from isolated”.


Amanda-Marie Scolack, daughter of Gloria Santos.

Photo courtesy of Amanda-Marie Scolack

Amanda-Marie Scolack, daughter of Gloria Santos.

Gloria Santos invites the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health to try the gastronomy of this hospital.

“They should come and have the same meal I had and tell us if it’s for human beings,” the 60-year-old suggested.

The photo of carrots and salmon pâté “does not at all represent the quality of the meals we want for all patients in Quebec,” said Minister Dubé’s office, calling the situation “unacceptable.”

“We know that each situation is different and we will have to understand what happened in this case before making any further comments,” it added.

surprise and sadness

The director of logistics at the Laval Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS), Martin Delage, said he was “surprised” when he saw the photo.

He called the presentation “sad” especially because of the Styrofoam plate, which was temporarily used during the repair of the hospital’s dishwasher.

Mr. Delage added that this meal “meets the standards required for the user”, and specified that patients without dietary restrictions receive more appetizing dishes.

“Here we fall into a patient exception. It’s difficult when it comes out as an anecdote like that. Of the 600 patients we serve, there are few who don’t have normal diets like you and me. »

A promised complaints management system

The CISSS de Laval promises to implement a system that will allow patients to complain about their food when they are not satisfied, in response to recent reports from the Log.

“What we want to put in place, I don’t know the means yet, but I want it to have a direct link between the patient and the food services,” explains Martin Delage, logistics director at the CISSS de Laval.

This measure will be put in place following recent reports by the Log on patients judging the food they were served at the Cité-de-la-Santé to be infected.

In reflection

“I’m thinking about that. Is it a QR code that we put in the back of the cabaret or an internal phone to say: “If you have a problem with your plate, [contacte-nous]” asks Mr. Delage.

According to the latter, patients normally do not dare to complain about their food to the nursing staff, who are often already overwhelmed.

“They say to themselves: ‘I don’t want to be whiny, he’s taking care of me’.”

Do you have any information to share with us about this story?

Got a scoop that might be of interest to our readers?

Write to us at or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.


source site-64