Hospitals set to axe big chocolate bars

LARGER chocolate products will be phased out in shops in Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals.

NHS England announced this week that it wanted to ban “super-size” chocolate bars from being sold in hospitals. Super-size mostly refers to larger bags of sweets designed for sharing.

The head of NHS England said that sweets and chocolate sold in hospitals should not have more than 250 calories.

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust manages Southport and Formby District General Hospital and Ormskirk and District General Hospital.

Both hospitals have catering services on site.

Simon Williams, facilities manager, said: “The restaurants and cafe operated by the trust don’t sell super-size confectionery. We also provide a range of healthy meals and snacks to patients, visitors and staff including fruit and low calorie bars.

“RVS, the charity which runs a shop at both Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals, is planning to phase out the very small selection of larger chocolate products they sell in the near future.”

NHS England also stipulated that 75% of pre-packed sandwiches should have a 400 calorie limit, and there should be a 5g limit of saturated fat per 100g in meals and a 5g limit of sugar per 100ml in drinks. It estimates that 54% of NHS staff are overweight or obese.

Hospitals have been enticed to make the changes with the promise of a cash boost.

Public Health England has said hospitals need to do more to combat unhealthy eating and not just deal with the consequences.