Healthy hospital food shop opens doors to staff and patients

The UK’s first health-focused food shop in a hospital setting has opened this week at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh

Revitalise, run by hospital retailer Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), only sells healthy and dietary-friendly food options for staff, visitors and patients.

Its launch follows research by RVS into the dietary habits of hospital staff in Scotland, which found that two fifths of NHS doctors and nurses eat one or no pieces of fresh fruit or vegetables during a typical working day.

Some 74% of those surveyed said they would like to see healthier options introduced into hospitals where they work to improve their diets.

Healthy choices

The shop will only sell healthier products that meet the Scottish Government’s Healthcare Retail Standards, introduced to improve health promotion in NHS buildings.  

Commenting on the flagship store, minister for public health and sport Aileen Campbell said: ‘It can be difficult for our hard-working nurses and doctors to eat well all the time.

‘A healthy diet plays an important role in preventing many serious conditions so it's vital that hospitals do everything they can to promote healthy choices.’

In 2014, Nursing Standard launched the Eat Well, Nurse Well campaign to improve the health of the UK's nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants.

The campaign included lobbying employers to provide healthy food choices for staff.

Further information

Eat Well, Nurse Well campaign