The way that hospital food is being served is being given a radical makeover at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Eligible patients are being given the opportunity to eat their meals away from their bedside with friends and family.

In one of the first schemes of its kind in the country, patients who are well enough to leave their beds will be able to order meal vouchers which they can take to the NNUH's restaurant to exchange for a daily choice of three hot meals, desserts, and tea and coffee.

Friends and family will be encouraged to join patients as they dine and will receive a 10pc discount on their bill.

The move is part of a Serco initiative designed to treat patients holistically and is in partnership with Norfolk chef Richard Hughes.

'Our plan at the hospital has always been to raise the quality of the food, make people's time here as enjoyable as possible, promote local suppliers and provide some really great meals at what I think is the most important restaurant in the county,' Mr Hughes said.

'Good food is as essential as the treatment and care that patients receive while they're at hospital.