Has Prue Leith gone beyond the call of duty to test hospital food? Bake off star sports crutches hours after breakfast with Boris Johnson

  • The Great British Bake Off judge, 79, was seen walking with crutches as she arrived at The Big Feastival in Oxfordshire on Friday
  • Prue met with the Prime Minister to help sort out hospital meals following the deaths of six patients who contracted listeria after eating NHS food
  • Her injury is believed to be a broken Achilles tendon, and MailOnline have contacted Prue's representatives for comment 
  • The chef has joined a government review of NHS food, which is set to examine whether a greater number of hospitals can provide in-house catering 
  • Prue has previously criticised the current standard of hospital meals and called for NHS trusts to make appealing and nutritious food on-site for patients 

Prue Leith was seen walking with crutches as she arrived at The Big Feastival in Oxfordshire on Friday, just hours after her breakfast meeting with Boris Johnson.

The Great British Bake Off judge, 79, has been hired to help sort out hospital meals following the deaths of six patients who contracted listeria after eating NHS food. 

While she happily met with the Prime Minister earlier in the day, Prue was seen using rainbow-print crutches at the street food festival.

Powering through: Prue Leith sported crutches hours after breakfast with Boris Johnson while she attended The Big Feastival in Oxfordshire

Powering through: Prue Leith sported crutches hours after breakfast with Boris Johnson while she attended The Big Feastival in Oxfordshire

Prue didn't let her injury get her down, as she used the crutches to walk to the stage before defiantly holding them up and placing them to one side.

The professional chef was in great spirits as she gave a cooking demonstration at the event, and jokingly brandished her crutches in funny poses after the talk.

She put on a colourful display in a striped asymmetrical shirt, which she teamed up with a pair of black trousers and red trainers.

Prue's injury is believed to be a broken Achilles tendon, and MailOnline have contacted Prue's representatives for comment.

Casual chic: Prue put on a colourful display in a striped asymmetrical shirt, which she teamed up with a pair of black trousers and red trainers
Injury: While she happily met with the Prime Minister earlier in the day, Prue was seen using rainbow-print crutches at the street food festival

Casual chic: Prue put on a colourful display in a striped asymmetrical shirt, which she teamed up with a pair of black trousers and red trainers

Talk: The Prime Minister sat down with master baker Prue for breakfast on Friday morning to have a discussion about listeria and NHS reform

Talk: The Prime Minister sat down with master baker Prue for breakfast on Friday morning to have a discussion about listeria and NHS reform

The Prime Minister sat down with master baker Prue for breakfast on Friday morning to have a discussion about listeria and NHS reform.

The Great British Bake Off judge has joined a government review of NHS food, which is set to examine whether a greater number of hospitals can provide in-house catering. 

Celebrity cook Leith has previously criticised the current standard of hospital meals and called for NHS trusts to make appealing and nutritious food on-site for patients.

Delighted: Prue didn't let her injury get her down, as she used the crutches to walk to the stage before defiantly holding them up and placing them to one side

Delighted: Prue didn't let her injury get her down, as she used the crutches to walk to the stage before defiantly holding them up and placing them to one side

Painful: Prue's injury is believed to be a broken Achilles tendon

Painful: Prue's injury is believed to be a broken Achilles tendon

Unfazed: The professional chef was in great spirits as she gave a cooking demonstration at the event
Relaxed: Prue walked around with the crutches

Unfazed: The professional chef was in great spirits as she gave a cooking demonstration

She said: 'Millions of pounds are wasted in hospitals with food ending up in the bin, unpalatable food being the main complaint.

'I'm delighted that, at long last, Downing Street and the Department of Health have decided to do something about it.

'A hospital meal should be a small highlight, a little pleasure and comfort, and it should help, not hinder, the patient's recovery.' 

It comes after the announcement Leith will advise a Government review into hospital food following the deaths of six people due to a listeria outbreak.

Seeing the funny side: Prue jokingly brandished her crutches in funny poses after the talk

Seeing the funny side: Prue jokingly brandished her crutches in funny poses after the talk

Looking around: Prue seemed to enjoy the highlights of the festivals
Helping hand: Prue was helped by staff at the event as she used a buggy

Helping hand: Prue was helped by staff at the event as she used a buggy

A 'root and branch' review launched by the Department of Health and Social Care on Friday will examine whether the number of hospitals catering in-house can be increased.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock called for the comprehensive review in June after six people died after contracting listeria from pre-packaged sandwiches and salads either purchased on site or given out by hospital staff.

The review will also consider whether kitchen facilities can be changed to bring more chefs into hospitals as well as using less frozen food and sourcing local fresh produce where possible.

The review will examine the quality of the estimated 140 million meals provided to patients each year, as well as staff meals.

Animated display: Prue was seen joking around as she took to the stage
Not to worry: The Bake Off judge was in good spirits

Animated display: Prue was seen joking around as she took to the stage

Beaming: Prue smiled as she posed alongside two paramedics

Beaming: Prue smiled as she posed alongside two paramedics

Attention to detail: Prue completed her ensemble by wearing a beaded necklace

Attention to detail: Prue completed her ensemble by wearing a beaded necklace

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