Patients have rated Kingston Hospital's food as "amongst the worst" for quality and choice.

The NHS choices website showed ratings of just 70.37 per cent for quality, and 79.95 per cent for the variety of meals on offer - one of the lowest scores of any hospital within an 11 mile radius where data was available.  

The hospital also only spends £6.55 on food per day, per patient - significantly less than other hospitals with similar ratings.

A Kingston Hospital spokeswoman said: "We are already well aware that the quality of our patient food needs to improve and are implementing an extensive action plan which has already led to some improvements.

"We are now trialling a finger food menu for patients with dementia, serving freshly baked cake in the afternoons, have lunch clubs to encourage communal eating and more than 200 volunteers provide support to patients at mealtimes.

"However, there is much more to do and we are working closely with our catering supplier ISS on further improvements.

"We are also working with patients, carers and staff who are helping to test the quality of the food through tasting sessions."

Tolworth Hospital was given ratings of 98.03 per cent and 89.11 per cent for quality and choice, respectively, placing it firmly in the "middle range" category. 

It spends £10.63 per patient per day on food.