A chef who underwent emergency surgery has put his recovery down to good hospital food.

Craig Mather had to have an urgent procedure after his appendix burst, leaving him bed-bound at Margate’s QEQM Hospital for 11 days.

The 31-year-old, who is head chef at Ramsgate’s The Empire Room, was also put in intensive care as he caught pneumonia.

He said: “After not being able to eat for seven days and after having the operation, I was pleasantly surprised to hear there were a lot of choices on the menu.

“I could choose from 30 different meals each day and when they came up they were piping hot and full of flavour.

“They weren’t anything gastronomic but they did the job when you were looking for something to break the day up.”

Mr Mather added there was a range of ingredients used for dishes from meat to fish and salads so everyone was catered for.

Mr Mather was admitted on Saturday, January 14, and was not discharged until Wednesday, January 25.

'Within 45 minutes of that happening I was in a cubicle being given morphine and having tests done' - Craig Mather

After initially phoning the NHS helpline 111 complaining of stomach pains the father-of-three said he was told to rest.

A week later the pain had not subsided and he was given an appointment to see the duty doctor.

He said: “I wasn’t in the waiting room for more than half an hour when the doctor said this is something more serious and sent me to A&E.

“Within 45 minutes of that happening I was in a cubicle being given morphine and having tests done.

“Later that evening I was introduced to the surgeon and told he wanted to wait until the next morning so he had his full team with him.

“I stayed in overnight and the next day they operated on me at 8am.”