STAFF and patients at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital could soon find it more difficult to buy a can of Coke or an energy drink on site.

Sugary drinks could even be banned from sale at shops at the hospital unless sales from drop considerably.

Marks and Spencer and Costa Coffee, which have stores at Musgrove, have been told sugary drinks must account for no more than ten per cent of their beverage sales by next year.

Musgrove already has strict rules governing the sale of drinks and director of patient care Hayley Peters has welcomed the announcement regarding food and drink sales at all hospitals from NHS chief executive Simon Stevens.

Somerset County Gazette:

Hayley Peters.

She said: "The health and wellbeing of our patients, visitors and staff is very important to us so we welcome this announcement and will work closely with all food and drink outlets at the hospital to make sure they continue to promote healthy nutritional choices.

"We already strongly encourage the sale of non-sugary drinks at Musgrove Park Hospital and do not allow advertisements or promotions of sugary drinks.

"Seven out of ten drinks lines sold at the hospital must be sugar free, at least six in ten confectionary and sweets must not exceed 250kcal and six out of ten pre-packed sandwiches, wraps and salads must not exceed 400kcal and 5.0 saturated fat per 100g.”

Mr Stevens has also told all retailers with branches on hospital sites that they must also reduce the amount of chocolate bars, crisps, pasties and pork pies.

He has advised retailers that the majority of sandwiches and pies should not contain more than 400 calories.

Mr Stevens is concerned that hospitals could be contributing to unhealthy lifestyles among staff and patients, many of whom suffer illnesses brought on by obesity.

He said: "A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but spoonfuls day in, day out mean serious health problems.

"Big name retailers are agreeing to take decisive action."