Grapes!

[piggynose]

Do people still give hospital patients grapes?
Secondly why grapes?

[barry1010]

They used to be quite expensive so were considered a treat.
They are good for folk in hospital though, help with a dry mouth and are easy to eat.
An apple, orange or banana may be daunting to someone with no appetite.

[1ozzy]

Because most patients displayed sour grapes?

[choux]

I thought it was how the pre-visit phone call was misheard:
"How are you, anything you need?"
"OK, vine"

[barry1010]

I once spent some time on the orthopaedic ward and all I wanted visitors to bring was cigarettes and whisky.
Those were the days, when you could smoke in a hospital bed.

[piggynose]

Barry, I remember spending a couple of days in the B'ham General in 1990. In the bed next to me, was man who had a taste for Carling!! He had a locker next to his full of cans!! I somehow think this wouldn't be allowed now!

[barry1010]

I think you're right, piggy.

[anneasquith]

Patients tended to get constipated when in hospital, grapes seemed to be the solution .

[Old_Geezer]

Isn't it because they have reasonable amounts of iron for the sick person to benefit from ?

[barry1010]

Black grapes can interfere with the absorption of iron

[elliemay1]

Lucozade used to be the drink to bring to patients but it was banned

[barry1010]

Banned from where? When?
You can still buy Lucozade but it has a lot less sugar these days, so diabetics can no longer rely on it when their blood sugars drop

[elliemay1]

Ok, probably not banned but I thought its use in hospitals was discouraged, I could be wrong!

[lankeela]

A nurse friend told me they no longer encouraged people to bring grapes in to hospital.

[rowanwitch]

Grapes are high in fructose, which can be a problem for diabetics. Before I left nursing we were suggesting people bring in small portions of ready to eat fruits, as large items were going off in the fruit bowls. However during my last admission I frequently popped down to the brilliant fruit and veg stall outside the main entrance to top up my personal supply.

[barry1010]

Lucozade is in the vending machines at my local hospital, along with other so called 'sport' and 'energy' drinks.
There was a big spread in the local paper a few years about my local NHS removing all sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks from sale in all of its facilities but it either never happened or didn't last long.
Chocolate, crisps, sweets and microwavable ready meals such as lasagne were in the vending machines last week.

There is a fruit stall outside, though