English hospitals fall behind rest of Britain in providing healthy vending machine snacks

England has fallen “woefully” behind Scotland and Wales in the provision of healthy food and drink in hospital vending machines, a leading cancer prevention charity has warned.

Unlike the other British nations, England has no national guidelines to ensure patients, staff and visitors to the country’s 146 acute hospital trusts have 24-hour access to healthy food and drink.

A survey of English hospital trusts by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found that three-quarters have no policy in place relating to the food and drink provided by their vending machines.

WCRF General Manager Amanda McLean said: “Hospital waiting areas often have vending machines that are filled with high-calorie products such as chocolate bars, crisps and sugary soft drinks. Because there is strong evidence that these foods cause obesity – a risk factor in diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease – they are partly to blame for many people ending up in hospital in the first place.

“Hospitals should put an end to vending machines that sell only high calorie food and drink. They should be beacons of good health in our communities and encourage and support people in making healthier choices about the food they eat.”

In the survey, 81 of the 110 hospitals (73 per cent) that responded to the question on whether they have a vending policy replied ‘no’. Eighteen (17 per cent) hospitals said such a policy was under development and 11 (10 per cent) answered that they had a vending policy.

Most hospitals – 58 per cent – do not have vending machines stocked to at least 30 per cent capacity with healthier choice products although 67 per cent offer at least one healthier choice option per product type.

Mrs McLean added: “We want the UK Government to correct the situation where England has fallen woefully behind Scotland and Wales in terms of the kind of food and drink offered in vending machines in hospitals. Specifically we should be aiming to introduce guidelines for hospital trusts comparable to those in Scotland.”

In 2008 both the Welsh and Scottish Governments introduced guidelines for hospital trusts on providing healthier products in vending machines.

The Scottish Government has guidelines for NHS boards to work towards healthy vending machines, including nutritional guidance to determine healthier products, removing soft drinks with high sugar content, making at least 30 per cent of vending products ‘healthier choice’ and positioning such products prominently within machines.

In Wales, the government issued Health Promoting Hospital Vending Directions and Guidance that included a five-point charter ensuring food and drinks sold from vending machines have a positive nutritional benefit. These require that food and drinks must comply with nutritional criteria.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), which called for a ban on unhealthy foods earlier this year, backed WCRF’s call for guidelines for English hospitals.

Professor Terence Stephenson, Chairman of the AoMRC, said: “The NHS needs to avoid providing the same obesogenic environment as the high street and send out a clear message that it takes obesity and the health of the nation seriously by offering patients and staff alike healthy food options.

“In February the Academy called for improved food standards in hospitals, including vending machines. There is no reason for England to fall behind other UK nations and not have these guidelines in place.”

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