A FORMER health chief has slammed plans to ban super-sized chocolate bars from hospitals in the battle against obesity as a ‘quick headline-grabbing fix’.

County councillor Azhar Ali, former health and wellbeing cabinet member at Lancashire County Council, said the plans will not work and backed a ‘sugar tax’ instead.

However, Russ McLean, East Lancashire’s patient’s champion said he was all in ‘favour’ of the plans which he said would help reduce obesity.

Under the plans announced by NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens, hospitals have also been ordered to take ‘grab bags’ of sugary snacks off the shelves.

It would see a 250-calorie limit introduced on confectionary sold in hospital canteens, stores and vending machines.

Proposals would also see 75 per cent of pre-packed sandwiches and other savoury pre-packed meals contain 400 calories or less per serving and not exceed five grams of saturated fat per 100g.

While 80 per cent of drinks stocked must have less than 5g of added sugar per 100ml.

Cllr Ali said: “Ultimately, these plans will not work and are a quick headline-grabbing fix.

“Instead, a sugar tax should be introduced on sugary foods and drinks and the money invested into schools to help them educate children on healthy eating.”

But Mr McLean, who is also the chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group has type 2 diabetes, said: “I’m all in favour as you get young children walking round hospitals and there is enormous pressure on their parents to get them unhealthy snacks from the vending machines.

“In one hospital, I saw a vending machine outside a diabetes clinic with chocolate in it.

“Hospitals should be setting an example in the fight against obesity and these plans help to achieve that.”

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust welcomed the plans and said they are working towards‘full implementation’

They said a piece of work was already underway to encourage healthy eating and that they have ‘already made a lot of changes’.

The trust, which operates Chorley A&E and Royal Preston Hospital, said it does not sell chocolate bars in any of its canteens and do not provide super-size chocolate in bars in their vending machines.

“Instead, we sell a range of healthier snacks including fruit and nuts,“ said a spokesperson for the trust.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said it took seriously its responsibility to provide a healthy food and drink seriously.

“This is a priority as the number of people affected by unhealthy weight continues to rise,” said a spokesman for the trust.

It comes as the trust installed ‘healthy’ hot food vending machines in Burnley General Teaching Hospital and Accrington Victoria Hospital.

They offer food including paninis, chicken nuggets, potato wedges and other main meal options.

But the vending machines, in which 79 per cent of the meals are below 400 calories per portion, have been criticised by a number of Lancashire Telegraph readers, who said the food is not ‘healthy’ and is ‘costly.’