NHS may ban sugary drinks in its battle to beat obesity

 The NHS could bring in a complete ban on sugary drinks in hospitals after more than third of trusts failed to sign up to a scheme to cut sales.

Hospitals and retailers were given until the end of March to reduce the number of sugary soft drinks, milkshakes and hot drinks with added sugar syrups, to 10 per cent or less of all beverages sold across its sites.

However, NHS England said that 80 out of 232 trusts have not yet joined the voluntary programme and warned that a ban could come into effect on July 1. The health body has already changed the hospitals’ contract to allow the complete prohibition of sugary drinks by the summer.

Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive, said: “We now know that obesity causes 13 different types of cancer as well as heart attacks and strokes, so the NHS has needed to get its own house in order on the epidemic of flab. Once the Easter eggs are gone, the NHS will be ensuring our hospitals and their retailers are offering healthier food and drinks for patients, relatives and staff.”

The new figures come ahead of the introduction of a tax on sugary soft drinks on Friday.

Campaigners said some hospitals may still be stuck in long-term contracts with suppliers that they were struggling to get out of.

National suppliers including WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and Greggs have signed up to the NHS voluntary scheme to cut sales of sugary drinks, along with 152 of 232 trusts.

Prof John Wass, from the Obesity Health Alliance, said NHS England was “leading by example when it comes to tackling obesity”.

“The reduction in sales of unhealthy food and drink in hospitals is an important step in the battle against obesity,” he said.