Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) have an ongoing requirement for food and beverage options to be available over a 24-hour period for staff, patients, and visitors. Vending machines ensure there is a meal and drink available throughout the hours the retail outlets are closed.

There is a recognised demand for vending machines throughout each of MNHHS’ facilities to provide quick and easy access to snacks and beverages. This is even more evident at outlying facilities such as Mental Health and Community Indigenous Sub-Acute Services where there are limited alternative food options, particularly after hours, without the need to travel offsite.

In 2017, MNHHS implemented the Metro North: Enabling a Better Choice Program to make healthier choices for staff and visitors by increasing the availability of healthier foods and drinks. The guidelines were based on the Queensland Government’s “A Better Choice Health Food and Drink Supplier Strategy” (ABC Strategy) which was originally developed in 2007 and re-developed in 2016 for the inclusion of Healthier Drinks Best Practice Guides for healthcare facilities.

Under this program, food and beverages are categorised as GREEN, AMBER or RED based on their nutritional value. MNHHS Retail Services facilitated the creation of an environment which actively promotes and provides a greater choice of healthy food and drinks by:

Food and beverage vending machines across MNHHS must adhere to the guidelines under the Healthier Food & Drinks at Healthcare Facilities Directive - Healthier food and drinks at healthcare facilities | Health service directive | Queensland Health

Depending on requirements these goods / services specifically include: