Junk food by courier... for patients at Carstairs

PATIENTS at State Hospital are using couriers to bring them parcels of sweets and fizzy drinks – in a bid to evade a junk food ban.

The high-security facility, which houses some of Scotland’s most dangerous killers and sex offenders, is at the centre of an extraordinary battle over healthy eating.

In a bid to beat obesity at the South Lanarkshire hospital, the authorities have cracked down on takeaways and banned patients from ordering supermarket deliveries.

But residents are finding new ways around the rules. Recently published hospital documents reveal patients have ordered food parcels stuffed with unhealthy snacks to be delivered to the hospital.

Officials noted: ‘Food/fluid items are being sent via post/courier. The current understanding is that volumes are low; however, there may be an increase in this practice, as a result of the cessation of external supermarket procurement.’

In their latest attempt to reduce patients’ waistlines, bosses have pledged to ensure a plentiful supply of healthy snacks in the hospital shop, plan to monitor patients’ treats and encourage them to eat fewer bread rolls.

Carstairs looks after some 140 patients with ‘dangerous, violent or criminal propensities’.

A combination of prescribed drugs, not enough exercise and lack of motivation means they are generally 20 per cent fatter than the Scottish average.

Those detained at Carstairs in recent years have included Robert Kerr, who stabbed his wife to death after wrongly believing he was not the father of their two children, and Edward Coyle, who stabbed four strangers over three days.

Papers before a recent board meeting reveal that, despite an 80 per cent cut in the sweets, chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks sold in the hospital shop, patients still prefer them to healthier options.

The board now says it will track patients’ purchases to encourage healthier snacking – and food or drink brought by visitors may be forbidden if they contain too many calories.

The board has also advertised a contract notice for supplying the shop with food and drink ‘with a strong influence on the healthier products within the marketplace’.

Products will include ‘healthier snacks and confectionery’ – as well as ice cream, yoghurt confectionary and fizzy drinks.

‘Healthier snacks and confectionery’