He said the food was cooked every three days in England and brought up to the hospital in a lorry where it was reheated in steam ovens.

The food is so awful that only a week ago one nurse was forced to return all the meals.

Unison spokesman

"The food is so awful that only a week ago one nurse was forced to return all the meals," he said.

"These meals are being cooked 2,000 at a time in Manchester then brought up here where it is reheated and served to people who are ill or recovering. We are worried that this food is unsafe to eat.

"Staff are shocked that people are being given this and are fed up of the problems that are happening at this hospital."

Unison's senior health officer Jim Devine for Scotland said the spokesman had contacted him with his concerns which he described as "very worrying".

Resentment among staff

Mr Devine said: "There is a great deal of resentment among staff at Hairmyres who are fed up of the problems at the hospital."

He blamed the problems of the fact the hospital, which opened three months ago, is part of the Private Finance Initiative, where public and private money is used to finance projects which are run by commercial partnerships.

The union officer said: "This is the first hospital in Scotland under this new initiative and it quite simply isn't working.

"We must stop using this method of funding, otherwise hospitals across the country will be serving up out-of-date food as well as being hindered with other problems."

David Hume, general manager at the hospital, admitted there had been "a few problems" with the food.

He said: "The problems have been addressed and officials and patients at Hairmyres are happy with the quality of goods now."