Ban on hospital junk food vending

[Taf]

Crisps, chocolate and sugary drinks are to be removed from vending machines in NHS hospitals in Wales.

Health Minister Edwina Hart says Wales is the first part of the UK to commit to such a move to tackle obesity and diet-related disease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7311326.stm

OK, so when the ladies of this house have to wait an extra couple of hours beyond their allotted appointment time to see their diabetic consultant, as often happens, they will just have to have hypos through lack of sugar 'cos the nitwits have removed carbohydrates from sale!

New Labour don't do joined-up thinking......

[sabell]

Some hospitals/wards have already done this. I actually agree with it, The NHS should be about Health Promotion and selling mars bars doesnt fit with this. Is it taking away choice? Probably yes, but maybe people will at least eat healthier whilst in hospital.

I would have thought you would take snacks with you incase of hypo's Taf?

[Izzy]

Makes sense really

[Taf]

I would have thought you would take snacks with you incase of hypo's Taf?

Melted chocolate in the heat of the hospital?

There are big signs everywhere telling people not to eat as it might upset those on a fasting visit... as many diabetics are... yet the consultants always keep them waiting...

[sabell]

I would have thought you would take snacks with you incase of hypo's Taf?

Melted chocolate in the heat of the hospital?

There are big signs everywhere telling people not to eat as it might upset those on a fasting visit... as many diabetics are... yet the consultants always keep them waiting...

Take it in a cool bag or take something else.

Nobody is going to question somebody eating who is about to go hypo.

They used to sell fags in hospitals too

[Taf]

The "concourse" of our hospital is a huge shopping centre with WH Smiths, Coffee outlets, post office, etc, etc... you can't get into the hospital without walking through it all... and these vendors got the WRVS kicked out of the hospital (tasty and cheap sarnies, tea, etc). The hot drinks machines are now always broken, the cold drinks machines charge a fortune, and the machines with snacks are always empty... even in Casualty.

And the nearest shop is about half a mile away.

I've seen people waiting in casualty drive over to a chippy then eat their vinegary loveliness in front of patients with rumbling tums....as they enjoy their 3-4-5-6 hour wait to see the disappearing doctor in Casualty.

My missus handed-out a whole pack of glucose tablets to fellow diabetics on the verge of hypo after the nurse refused to get them provided witha snack... or even a drink from the canteen.

[sabell]

Then your wife should have reported the nurse because she has broken her duty of care, if you complain then the hospital has to respond.

People eating chips in front of hungry patients  is not the fault of The Hospital, it is the insensitivity of the chip eaters. I have stopped people, at various times, from bringing KFC, Kebabs etc onto wards/into hospitals because it is not the place. I have questioned people waiting in A&E who are able to sit and eat a Macdonalds but unable to go and see their GP in the morning

It is The NHS, not BUPA,  I am very very aware of its faults but  I am not sure what people expect from it at times?

[Lisa]

well said sabell!!

the hospital we go to is very good.

nurses/hospitals get a lot of bad press unfairly, when was the last time we had a good story about nurses or hospitals...... and thats not because they never do a good job. No wonder morale is low.

I fully understand why my mother left the NHS hospitals and went to work in a nursing home after many years, even though it was a step down in pay and duties.

[Spite]

  Good.  Why should Hospitals be expected to sell the very foodstuffs, which, in some cases, is causing the illnesses that patients are being treated for?