Sandwell Hospital could introduce a kitchen that would cater specifically for halal meals for patients and staff.

It comes after bosses were criticised over the quality of meals on offer to patients last year.

Board members at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust clashed over the issue at a board meeting in November, with bosses accused of not doing enough to ensure halal meals were up to standard.

But in the latest trust papers it has now been revealed that chief executive Toby Lewis said ‘a lot of work had been done’ with local suppliers including Heart of England Foundation Trust in ‘providing meals under licence’.

A trust spokesman said: “We are still reviewing options around creating a separate halal kitchen and the best ways to provide a range of healthy halal options to patients and staff who want them.”