Hospital medics’ anger as food store faces closure
A WHOLE foods shop at a hospital could be forced to close as it has been ‘asked to leave’ by facility management, says its owner.
Have a Banana is based at the maternity and women’s centre at Saint Mary’s Hospital, but the shop’s boss claims it is being ejected by the owners of the unit, Sodexo.
After six years trading, Have a Banana’s customers were devastated to hear the news and medics have launched a petition to stop the closure of the shop. It has already received more than 4,000 signatures.
The hospital trust and Sodexo have invited the shop to create a proposal on why it should stay, the M.E.N. understands.
Manchester vascular surgeon Naseer Ahmad tweeted: “I can not believe Have a Banana whole foods is having to leave its spot outside Saint
Mary’s. I mean, what’s wrong with having a banana?”
Obstetrician Dr Teresa Kelly added: “No way! We can’t do without you!” A biomedical scientist said: “No! This is a great place for staff and patients!”
Have a Banana has been trading on Oxford Road for six years, first setting up shop in the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. During the pandemic, the business moved outside the hospital to keep patients and staff safe.
But then the weather turned in September 2020, and Have a Banana was offered a place inside Saint Mary’s.
The store’s owner Mike Austin said: “Staff come in their scrubs, in between surgeries, they come down for a chat when things are getting on top of them.
“If patients are having a tough time, they’ll come to talk as well, we can often be the first non-medical face they’ve seen that day.”
Have a Banana has been offered a spot outside or back in the children’s hospital, says Mike. Both are ‘not viable’ because of the weather and because of how the business has grown, he added.
A Sodexo spokesperson said: “Currently,
Sodexo and Manchester University NHS Trust are discussing future retail opportunities with the store operator for when their lease expires in March 2023.”