Dispensary Corner 14 Aug 13
August 14, 2013
VENDING machines in English
hospitals have come under fire,
with a charity group saying they
contain too many high-calorie
chocolate snacks.
The World Cancer Research
Fund found that 73% of regional
health trusts in England did not
have a policy about the junk
food content of the machines - in
contrast to Wales and Scotland,
where it’s been mandated that
30% of the contents be “healthier
choice” products.
“Hospitals should put an end to
vending machines that sell only
high calorie food and drink,” said
a spokesperson.
“They should be beacons of
good health in our communities
and encourage and support
people in making healthier
choices about the food they eat”.
However a policy director at the
NHS Confederation defended the
machines, saying they were just
one option for obtaining food in
the hospitals.
“If a patient has been in
hospital a week wants a few mint
imperials, or a parent wants to
buy their child who has just had a
broken arm reset some chocolate
buttons, as a doctor I think that is
absolutely fine,” he added.
SWEDISH authorities have
warned male bathers against
skinny dipping, after a fish called
a pacu, known as “the ball cutter”
was discovered off the country’s
southern coast.
A relative of the piranha, the
pacu apparently has “quite a
serious bite,” with incidents in
countries such as Papua New
Guinea where some men have
had there testicles severed.
“They bite because they’re
hungry, and testicles sit nicely in
their mouth,” said aquatic expert
Henrik Carl.
However the danger is minimal,
with just one of the savage fish
having so far been discovered.
Carl said that bathers were
“more likely to drown than get
your nuts bitten off”.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 14 Aug 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 14 Aug 13
