Prisoners serving time in Scottish jails are better fed than patients cared for by the NHS, according to new figures revealed in a freedom of information request from the Scottish Conservatives.
Meal costs published by the Scottish Prison Service detail that the Scottish Government spends more on meals for prisoners in four prisons across Scotland than on patients at their local NHS health boards.
Two prisons in the Greater Glasgow area spend more on prisoner meals than the £4.32 NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde spends on its patients: Glasgow’s Lilias Center is handing out a menu costing up to £5.30 per prisoner and the Bella Center serves meals totaling £5.32. .
Elsewhere, meals at HMP Kilmarnock cost £4.71, while meals at NHS Ayrshire & Arran cost just £3.69 and plates at HMP Inverness cost up to £4.05 for prisoner meals when patients from NHS Highland have to make do with food costing £3.01.
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde spends £4.32 on its patients (stock photo)
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The Scottish Conservatives’ Freedom of Information request also revealed that the average cost of feeding prisoners in Scotland is almost 60% higher than the average cost in England and Wales.
In 2023/24, the average cost of daily meals for Scottish prisoners was £4.27, while breakfast, lunch and dinner for prisoners in England and Wales cost just £2.70 during the same period.
When comparing the cost of hospital meals, NHS Scotland spends on average £6.23 on daily patient meals, while NHS England patient meals average £5.41 , although averages for hospital trusts across Britain vary considerably.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachel Hamilton said it was “scandalous” that patients stuck in hospital could be subjected to a low-cost menu while diners behind bars “seem to be getting better treatment “.
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HMP Kilmarnock meals cost £4.71 per prisoner
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She said: “Scots will wonder why more money is spent per prisoner here compared to what is spent in England and Wales.
“Complaints about the food served in Scottish hospitals are unfortunately all too common. It is therefore dismaying to see that prisoners seem to receive better treatment.
“It makes good sense to spend more to serve healthy, nutritious meals to patients in poor health.
“The public and victims of crime will rightly wonder why criminals behind bars are receiving better quality meals than patients stuck in Scottish hospitals.
Having one of the highest incarceration rates in Western Europe, the Scottish Prison Service has a budget of £10.5 million to feed prisoners across the country (file photo)
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“SNP ministers should urgently examine this disparity in spending and ensure patients are prioritized over prisoners. »
Having one of the highest incarceration rates in Western Europe (147 per 100,000 population), the Scottish Prison Service has a budget of £10.5 million to feed prisoners across the country.
The budget is for three meals a day and one dessert, including sausage pie, steak, roast turkey, brownies and ice cream.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Prison food is the responsibility of the Scottish Prison Service, which has a responsibility to provide healthy and nutritious meals to all those in its care, and health advice are responsible for feeding patients. »