Fizzy drinks sold in HSE dental clinic
Sugar-free message ‘undermined by vending machine’
A VENDING machine selling fizzy drinks installed near a HSE dental clinic waiting room has sparked frustration among staff who warn it’s completely undermining their message to avoid sugary snacks.
The machine – which has a HSE logo – was installed in recent weeks in the HSE’s community care offices in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, and sells Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta, Sprite and Oasis, as well as bottled water.
The machine has messages printed on it urging the public to opt for a ‘healthy choice’, which it says are colour-coded with green buttons, representing water or Diet Coke, or Coke Zero. It also advises people to only eat snacks with calorie levels lower than 150.
The decision to install the machine has angered staff who say it contradicts what they’re tellin patients. The Irish Dental Association warns against giving soft drinks to children, saying there is a clear link with tooth decay. One staff member said: ‘The service here is telling the kids and parents that sugar rots their teeth, that fizzy, sugar-filled drinks have no nutrition and are especially detrimental. ‘Then management puts a vending machine with an official HSE logo in the waiting room so kids can have a fizzy, sugary drink while waiting. This makes a joke of the service and sends a message from management to the staff that the service itself and staff efforts are not important.
‘It also ignores the whole obesity debate.’
The source added that when staff complained, management didn’t seem to take their complaints seriously. ‘[They] said as the machine also sells water and patients have a choice it’s ok to have the machine.’
The HSE this week said the machine is in the general waiting area, and not specific to dentistry. A HSE spokeswoman directed this newspaper to its healthy vending policy, which states that 60% of items sold should be a ‘better choice’ item.
A HSE staff member said the HSE can’t simply put a message on a vending machine encouraging people to choose the healthy option and think its job is done.