Health campus food scores an unhealthy zero

Albany Health Campus has scored zero in a recent nutrition audit of WA Health sites.

In the audit of 25 facilities, Albany was the largest of nine hospitals to receive the rating of zero compliance with the State Government’s Healthy Options WA Food and Nutrition Policy.

Hospitals were scored on whether the food outlets available to the public met the “traffic light” health system.

Albany hospital’s two canteen/kiosks and two vending machines failed to show they had at least 50 per cent of options classified as green, and no more than 20 per cent classified as red.

The last audit on how hospitals had adopted the Healthy Options WA Food and Nutrition Policy was conducted in 2016.

The policy aims to support and model healthy eating options in healthcare environments.

Health Minister Roger Cook said healthy eating options were a challenge for a lot of the State’s smaller hospitals.

“Many of their outlets are run by volunteers and we value each and every one of them greatly,” he said.

“While our whole health system should lead by example when it comes to healthy eating options, the main areas of concern from the audit are the large tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area.

“I have asked the board chairs of all our health service providers to work with the operators of their food outlets to help them improve the healthy options available.”

Katanning Hospital and Plantagenet Cranbrook Health Service also scored zero.

Fremantle Hospital was the best performing facility with an 81 per cent compliance rating from its 16 food outlets.

A WA Country Health Service spokeswoman said that they accepted the findings of the audit.

“The organisation has been progressively implementing the requirements of the policy and will be making further progress towards compliance,” the spokeswoman said.

“It’s important to note that this audit reflects food options available to the public through canteens, kiosks and vending machine at our facilities. It isn’t reflective of the food served to patients.”