NHS hospitals to abandon Weetabix and Bran Flakes breakfast cereals to their patients to save money



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It is considered the most important meal of the day by many nutritionists.

The general opinion is that skipping breakfast does more harm than good, but that's exactly what some NHS inpatients will do with surprisingly new plans.

Rising grain prices are costing the NHS too much, according to Health Minister Stephen Hammond. He said the NHS could save a third on breakfasts it buys in bulk – reducing breakfast costs by £ 420,000.

Thus, instead of buying locally for all patients to have their Weetabix, hospital managers are encouraged to use the central purchasing arm of the health service, the NHS supply chain.

This means that NHS Supply will no longer systematically stock Weetabix and Bran Flakes breakfast cereals due to higher prices.

Patients would also lose fruit and nut chocolate as well as strawberry and yogurt. Alpen Cereal Bars Report Mirror



Having breakfast is considered the best way to start the day

A source at the Ministry of Health said that branded items would be exchanged for similar products offering better value for money. Mr. Hammond also said that some NHS trusts paid 40% more tea than others.

He added: "The NHS pays extremely different amounts for simple things like tea, beans and jam. By signing up, hospitals could save thousands of pounds. "

Rona Miranda of NHS Supply Chain said, "We are working hard to find nutritious food at the most competitive prices."

Currently, 19 trusts are in the system and Mr. Hammond wants all hospitals to join.

Hospitals will be able to order cereals as they wish and changes will be verified.

Earlier this month, we explained how the NHS was struggling to cope with additional pressure on health care because of universal credit, homelessness and poverty.

People struggling to make ends meet get sick – and the NHS can not afford the additional costs of dealing with them, according to a report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee.

"The financial health of the NHS is deteriorating more and more: the increase in loans to support distressed funds, raids on investment budgets to make up for the shortfall, and the growth of listings." Waiting and reducing waiting times do not indicate a viable position ".

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