NHS bosses plan to ban ALL sugary drinks from hospitals as they battle Brits’ bulging waistlines
NHS bosses may ban all sugary drinks from hospitals — even sweetened coffees — to fight obesity.
Staff and patients could find it impossible to buy fizzy drinks, smoothies, fruit juices — with added sugar — and milkshakes next year.
The ban would apply to cafes, shops and vending machines, and would stop chains such as Costa and Starbucks from selling sweetened coffees on NHS premises.
Around 700,000 doctors, nurses and other health staff are too fat.
NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens is launching a consultation to slash sugary drink consumption.
One plan involves hitting sellers with extra fees to discourage sales, such as a 25p-a-drink surcharge.
The second idea is an outright ban on all NHS premises.
The health service is Europe’s biggest employer with 1.3million staff. More than a million people visit NHS premises daily.
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At the ukactive National Summit in Westminster today, Mr Stevens is expected to say: “Confronted by rising obesity, type 2 diabetes and child dental decay, it’s time for the NHS to practise what we preach.
“So we’re now calling time on hospitals as marketing outlets for junk food and fizzy drinks.”
NHS bosses said their scheme would be additional to the proposed sugar tax announced by the Government this year.
Proceeds would be spent on offering staff weight-loss and fitness programmes.
Around two in three adults are too fat.
Being too heavy increases the chances of type 2 diabetes, heart and liver disease and several cancers.
Confronted by rising obesity, type 2 diabetes and child dental decay, it’s time for the NHS to practise what we preach
Simon Stevens, NHS England
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, called the plans “a brilliant move”. He added: “The NHS knows full well the ravages caused by sugary drinks on a patient’s health.”
Gavin Partington, who heads up the British Soft Drinks Association, said: “Given the Government is looking to introduce a soft drinks tax it seems odd another public body wishes to duplicate this process.”
And John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Raising awareness of the benefits of a healthy diet is one thing, but punishing doctors on long shifts or families visiting ill relatives is surely not the way to go about it.”
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