This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/27/doctors-junk-food-ban-nhs

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Doctors call for junk food ban on NHS premises Doctors call for junk food ban on NHS premises
(34 minutes later)
The British Medical Association's annual conference has passed a motion calling for all NHS premises to ban the sale of junk food and unhealthy drinks. Representatives of Britain's doctors have backed calls for hospitals to stop selling junk food anywhere on their premises, including in shops, cafes and vending machines.
For many patients and their families, vending machines or people with trolleys offering crisps, chocolate and cans of pop are the easiest way to get some food in hospitals. Delegates at the British Medical Association's annual conference in Edinburgh overwhelmingly passed a motion urging hospitals to sell only healthy products, after a cardiologist and anti-obesity campaigner argued that it was obscene for places that promote health to also have fast-food outlets on site.
Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist at London's Royal Free hospital, said that to combat the obesity epidemic hospitals should take a stance against selling junk food. The 500 representatives endorsed the move, which was proposed by Dr Aseem Malhotra. They called for hospitals to ban all junk food and sugary drinks and for the BMA to lobby the Department of Health and the NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals, "to ensure that all NHS premises should clearly display the health risks involved with junk food and drinks, especially in kitchen areas and on vending machines."
He told delegates at the conference in Edinburgh that 60% UK adults were overweight, and one in three children were overweight or obese by the time they left primary school. The campaign is also supported by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents all the UK's 220,000 doctors professionally.
"It is appalling to observe on ward rounds patients, some of whom are not fully mobile, gorging on crisps, confectionery and sugary drinks – the very food items that may have contributed to their admissions in the first place," he said. Malhotra, a cardiologist at London's Royal Free hospital, told delegates: "It is appalling to observe on ward rounds patients, some of whom are not fully mobile, gorging on crisps, confectionery and sugary drinks – the very food items that may have contributed to their admissions in the first place.
"It is obscene that many hospitals continue to have high street fast food franchises on site as well as corridors littered with vending machines selling junk food." "It is obscene that many hospitals continue to have high street fast-food franchises on site as well as corridors littered with vending machines selling junk food."
Doctors also urged the government to extend the free fruit and vegetable scheme to include all primary school children. At present children in England aged four to six are given a free portion of fruit or vegetables each school day. Only one delegate, Thomas Nixon from the BMA's junior doctors committee, spoke against the motion. He said that sometimes he might want to have a fizzy drink or a high-calorie snack after his shift. Nixon also asked whether the provision of a plate of biscuits when breaking bad news to relatives would be at risk, with bowls of fruit offered instead.
Others expressed concern about the number of patients who smoke in front of hospitals. They said rules prohibiting smoking near the entrances to hospitals were routinely ignored, and called for health bosses to impose tougher penalties for staff or patients who break such rules. The NHS Confederation opposes the plan. Its director of policy, Dr Johnny Marshall, says that commercial outlets in hospitals are "highly valued" by patients, their families and hospital staff, and most sell healthy products as well as sweet treats. It is also unfair and unrealistic to deny patients the right to buy sweets to cheer themselves up, he argues.
Hospitals make little money from such franchises, according to Marshall. "There isn't a hospital trust in the country that would prioritise the relatively small amount of income they get from these sources above the overall health of their local community," he said.
The BMA conference also backed a call to campaign for a cut in the price of fruit and vegetables, in order to make them more affordable as part of a drive to encourage healthy eating, and for the government to extend initiatives involving free fruit and vegetables in schools to all primary-age children.
Currently pupils in England aged four to six are given a free portion of fruit or vegetables each school day.