STOP PRESS - HOSPITAL STOPS SUPPORTING MCDONALDS
This lovely little item crossed my screen today:
Scottish Hospital Stops Handing Out McDonald's Vouchers LONDON (AP)--
A hospital in Scotland has scrapped a program under which young patients were given vouchers for fast food at McDonald's (MCD) after a legislator complained that the gifts could make "the so-called ticking timebomb of obesity even bigger and more explosive." For eight years, children at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness were given the vouchers for free "Happy Meals" as a reward for being brave during treatment. But National Health Service Highland said Thursday that it had scrapped the offer after the health board had ruled it "totally inappropriate."
"I appreciate that the thoughts behind the scheme were to reward children who are sometimes undergoing painful and lengthy procedures, but there are otherways we can do this," said NHS Highland chairman Garry Coutts. "As soon as it was raised with senior managers and directors it was stopped,and I would like to thank those people who brought it to our attention," he said.
The program was condemned by Dr. Eleanor Scott, Green Party legislator inScotland's parliament, who is a former community paediatrician. "From what I know of this scheme, it sounds like the hospital is feeding the unhealthy eating habits that the health service is battling to stamp out," she said. "I really do think something has gone very badly wrong and this practice ofencouraging children to eat highly-processed food, likely to be high in salt,sugar and fat, should stop immediately. Giving out vouchers for McDonald's will simply make the so-called ticking time-bomb of obesity even bigger and more explosive." A McDonald's spokeswoman said the fast food chain had supported the bravery certificates for a number of years after being approached by the hospital. "The express intention was that this was issued to the parent of the child, who could then remove the voucher, should they wish to do so, leaving the certificate intact," she said. She said the last batch of certificates was issued more than a year ago and that McDonald's hadn't been aware they were still in use. The spokeswoman spoke on condition of anonymity, in keeping with company policy regarding McDonald's statements. (END) Dow Jones Newswires 03-09-06 0828ET Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Well, I'm glad that's sorted. I am sure that stopping the children having vouvhers for free McDonalds will influence their lifestyles and their outlooks hugely. Or perhaps not.
Scottish Hospital Stops Handing Out McDonald's Vouchers LONDON (AP)--
A hospital in Scotland has scrapped a program under which young patients were given vouchers for fast food at McDonald's (MCD) after a legislator complained that the gifts could make "the so-called ticking timebomb of obesity even bigger and more explosive." For eight years, children at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness were given the vouchers for free "Happy Meals" as a reward for being brave during treatment. But National Health Service Highland said Thursday that it had scrapped the offer after the health board had ruled it "totally inappropriate."
"I appreciate that the thoughts behind the scheme were to reward children who are sometimes undergoing painful and lengthy procedures, but there are otherways we can do this," said NHS Highland chairman Garry Coutts. "As soon as it was raised with senior managers and directors it was stopped,and I would like to thank those people who brought it to our attention," he said.
The program was condemned by Dr. Eleanor Scott, Green Party legislator inScotland's parliament, who is a former community paediatrician. "From what I know of this scheme, it sounds like the hospital is feeding the unhealthy eating habits that the health service is battling to stamp out," she said. "I really do think something has gone very badly wrong and this practice ofencouraging children to eat highly-processed food, likely to be high in salt,sugar and fat, should stop immediately. Giving out vouchers for McDonald's will simply make the so-called ticking time-bomb of obesity even bigger and more explosive." A McDonald's spokeswoman said the fast food chain had supported the bravery certificates for a number of years after being approached by the hospital. "The express intention was that this was issued to the parent of the child, who could then remove the voucher, should they wish to do so, leaving the certificate intact," she said. She said the last batch of certificates was issued more than a year ago and that McDonald's hadn't been aware they were still in use. The spokeswoman spoke on condition of anonymity, in keeping with company policy regarding McDonald's statements. (END) Dow Jones Newswires 03-09-06 0828ET Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Well, I'm glad that's sorted. I am sure that stopping the children having vouvhers for free McDonalds will influence their lifestyles and their outlooks hugely. Or perhaps not.
posted by Jambutty at 1:32 pm
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