Sweets and sugary drinks banned from vending machines in Shropshire hospitals
Hospitals in Shropshire have banned the sale of sugary drinks and sweets from vending machines.
Leaders said the move was part of steps to reduce sugar consumption among patients and visitors.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust has agreed to the move, initially at the Shropshire Women and Children's Centre in Telford but spreading to other hospital outlets. It said almost a quarter of five-year-olds in Telford & Wrekin, and more than one in five in Shropshire, have one or more decayed, filled or missing teeth.
Shropshire also has a slightly higher than national level of obesity in children aged four to five years of 10 per cent, with this rising to more than 16 per cent in 10 to 11-year-olds.
The move has been supported by the Friends of the Princess Royal Hospital, who will also be removing such confectionery from their shop at the Women and Children's Centre, and the League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, who will be doing the same at their outlet in the Copthorne Building, which houses children's outpatient services and the Shrewsbury midwife-led maternity unit.
Last September, the hospital trust increased the cost of its sugared drinks by 10p, with the additional money raised being used to fund material to raise awareness of the risks of sugar in food and drink.
It also removed branding from its drinks machines, reduced the availability of sugary drinks, removed sugary drinks from meal deals and added new sugar-free and healthier options.
Chris Fisher, catering services manager at SaTH, said: "We want to ensure that our restaurants, cafes and vending machines offer the healthiest options possible for our patients, visitors and staff.
"Focusing initially on the reduction of sugar consumption of children, the Trust has made the decision to end the sale of sugared drinks and confectionery aimed towards children in the Shropshire Women and Children's Centre.
"The snack vending machine no longer offers sweets or chocolate and in the coming weeks, Caffe Bistro will cease the sale of cola, chocolate bars and added-sugar smoothies."
