IRISH hospital food is set to get a new and improved menu - after it was revealed that one hospital spent less than a euro per meal.

A new food, nutrition and hydration policy will be introduced next year by the HSE in conjunction with the Department of Health and Healthy Ireland.

2 The new policy will come in to effect next year Credit: Corbis - Getty

The policy is expected to include improved food choices on all menus, access to regular meals and snacks and replacement meals if a patient misses one.

The menu revamp will minimise fasting times and interruptions at meal times.

Patients have complained for years about poor nutritional options, and the difficulty of getting food in between meal times.

The department has been criticised in the past after it was revealed that in 2015, Portlaoise Hospital spent 94c per meal on average.

2 Patients will get an improved set of food options Credit: Alamy

Over the last four years, even Irish prisons spent an average of a euro per meal, according to the Irish Daily Mail.

Michelin star chef Oliver Dunne came to national attention in 2015 after tweeting the meal that was served to his wife in hospital.

The last meal of the day served at 4.30pm in Dublins Mater Hospital #makeitbetter @campaignforleo pic.twitter.com/plSaYQgLkE — Oliver Dunne (@OliverDunne) November 23, 2014

The measly plate of a slice of ham and grated cheese was considered a meal in the Mater Hospital.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said: "The new policy will allow for improved food choice on all menus, and access to regular meals and snacks.

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"It will also include access to meal replacements if a patient misses a meal, minimising fasting times and interruptions at meal times," Harris told Independent.ie.

“The new policy will include improved food choice on all menus, and access to regular meals and snacks is provided to all, from admission to discharge."

Harris said the benefits are “endless” and that when patients have access to high quality food it will aid their recovery.