Chocolate and crisps on tap in children's waiting room at hospital A&E

The vending machine in the children's waiting room of the A&E dept at the Royal Oldham Hospital

Local health bosses are being accused of "putting profit before patients" after it was revealed that the children's waiting room at the A&E department of the Royal Oldham Hospital has a chocolate vending machine.

The mother of one poorly child, who recently spent five hours with her son in the waiting room, said: "They claim to be trying to reduce child obesity but have a chocolate and crisps vending machine in the children's waiting room of the hospital. It is disgraceful, they are putting profit before patients."

Howard Cartledge, Trust Catering Lead at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are working with the contractor regards the filling of all the vending machines at our hospitals to reduce the amount of chocolate lines and increase the healthier options and low fat crisps available.

"We continue to encourage our staff, patients and visitors to make healthier choices when buying food and drinks at our hospitals.

"We are also looking at the vending machines located in the children’s areas to make sure the goods on sale include healthier options.”