Save £ 420,000 a year at breakfast, NHS said | Society

The government is asking the NHS to cut spending on food and drinks, saying it could save £ 420,000 a year on breakfast products alone.

The government claims that if hospital trusts get better deals for breakfast, they could reduce their bills by a third without compromising the quality of the food or beverages served. He says some hospitals pay exorbitant prices to suppliers for breakfast items such as tea, coffee, baked beans and fruit juices.

Some trusts buy their food and drinks individually and could pay 40% more for tea or coffee than a neighboring trust, new data showing that the NHS buys enough tea to fill 60 million cups a year.

Stephen Hammond, Minister of Health, said: "The NHS serves thousands of delicious breakfasts every day – but pays extremely different amounts for simple things like beans, tea and jams.

"By signing this agreement [The Breakfast Savings Initiative], hospitals could save thousands of pounds each year, which could help us improve our services with our long-term NHS plan. "
The Breakfast Savings Initiative, in which 19 trusts participate, is part of the drive to save £ 2.4 billion. The program aims to stop the price variations paid by different hospitals and to facilitate the exchange of items with similar products.

The Government states that any changes made to foods purchased by a hospital or clinic will be reviewed by a panel of gastronomic and dietary experts to ensure that they do not compromise the taste or diet. nutritional value. Rona Miranda, account manager in the NHS food supply chain, said: "The health and well-being of patients is our top priority and we strive to provide nutritious food at the most competitive prices. . The goal is to eliminate any variation in product prices across the NHS by leveraging the collective purchasing power of the NHS. In turn, trusts will receive quality, clinically insured products at the best possible price. "