Nurses could be asked to serve chips with check-ups in plans being considered by health bosses.

The proposed catering reshuffle at Darent Valley Hospital could see clinical staff taking patients’ breakfast, lunch and dinner with them on their rounds.

Discussions are said to be at a very early stage, but if the move goes ahead, it would see nurses replace this role of catering staff employed at the hospital by a private contractor, Carillion.

A source said this would be a “backward step” and could affect more than 50 jobs, something the hospital could not and Carillion would not confirm.

Simon Bolton, regional organiser for Unison, speaks for the 240 cleaning, catering and porter staff employed by Carillion at the Darenth Wood Road hospital.

He said: “The delivery of food to wards is down to the catering department. Nurses have enough to do without dishing up meals.

“It would be a nonsense. It doesn’t need a nurse to do it - it’s a waste of their time.

"There’s no point putting someone through a very expensive three-year degree course to have them come out serving egg and chips.”

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, which manages the hospital, said the idea was prompted by a desire to offer patients greater choice about when they have their meals and give them more direct contact with nursing staff.

It said this aim was also reflected in the results of a recent patient satisfaction survey, which suggested nurses should be more involved in feeding those they are treating.

Director of nursing, Jenny Kay, said: “We always take patients' comments seriously.

"Serving meals gives nurses the one-to-one opportunity to talk about how each patient is feeling and hear any comments about the hospital food.”

Carillion, which was awarded the catering contract at the hospital under a Private Finance Initiative, refused to comment.