A British hospital under fire for reports of poor nursing care said "appropriate action" was taken against nurses involved in a photographed food fight.

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The Mid Staffordshire National Heath Service Foundation Trust, which operates England's Stafford Hospital, said "appropriate action" was taken after administrators saw photographs of the food fight in December, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

The hospital was the subject of a government report last year finding up to 1,200 patients died needlessly due to poor nursing, staff shortages and neglect.

The pictures, believed to have been taken last summer, depict two nurses throwing yogurt and juice at one another in a side room of the Acute Medical Unit. The photos were taken by a third nurse.

"As soon as we were made aware of the photos in December 2009 we launched an investigation and appropriate action was taken," said Antony Sumara, chief executive of the trust.

He did not elaborate on what action was taken.