IN response to the letter from Elizabeth Anderson on vending machines at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley (March 19) I would like to emphasise that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and the Scottish Government take the issue of obesity very seriously and have over a number of years implemented changes to provide healthy options in all our shops, cafes, dining rooms, trolley service sand vending machines.

We state in our retail policy: “NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is committed to the continuous improvement of the diet of our population and will demonstrate this through the delivery of healthier food and drink choices throughout all retail facilities located within NHSGGC estate”.

All cafes, dining rooms, trolley services and vending machines offer foods and drinks that meet specific nutritional specifications, deemed to be low in salt, sugar and fat (in line with the Healthy Living Award and Healthcare Retail Standards). We therefore ensure that a minimum of 50 per cent and, in some vending machines 100 per cent of what is on offer meet these criteria; for example, a minimum of 50 per cent of the crisps are baked, no drinks in the vending machines contains more than 5g sugar/100ml and sugar-free fizzy drinks are allowed.

Any ice cream or crisps on offer in vending machines meet the same nutritional criteria.

All of our cafes and dining rooms ensure that 70 per cent of all food and drink meet nutritional criteria specified in the national Healthy Living awards. In the shops on our facilities such as WH Smith and Marks and Spencer, and in RVS and other voluntary organisation tea rooms, 50 per cent of all food and 70 per cent of all drinks must meet these nutritional criteria.

My aim is that over time all the food and drink we offer meet the nutritional criteria but I hope this response reassures those using our facilities that there are always healthy options available.

Dr Linda de Caestecker,

Director of Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow.