All hospitals agree to cut sugary drink sales

As part of NHS England’s intention to curb rising levels of obesity, all 227 NHS hospital trusts across England have agreed to cut sales of sugary drinks on their premises.

Increasing numbers of hospitals have signed up since NHS England introduced cash rewards for those that hit the target last year, with every NHS hospitals now having pledged to reduce sales of sugar-sweetened drinks to 10 per cent or less of their total drinks sales.

It is now hoped that sugar intake for patients, staff and families visiting hospitals will reduce even further, with NHS England claiming that approximately 30 million teaspoons of sugar have already been removed from NHS canteens, shops and vending machines as a result of pledges.

To date, 14 leading national retailers operating from NHS premises, including WH Smith, Boots, Marks & Spencer and Greggs, have signed up to the health drive to tackle the impact of the country’s expanding waistlines, with 23 NHS trusts and two retailers having decided to stop selling sugary drinks altogether.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England said: “Every hospital in the country is now answering this important call to action and the NHS is rightly leading the way in battling the growing obesity epidemic across the country. Obesity and its associated dangers is a worrying challenge facing the NHS and so it is crucial, as we draw up a long term plan for the future of the NHS that we take action where we can to avoid a long list of preventable problems in the years ahead.”