‘No major disruption’ to hospital food supplies - DoH responds to food shortage fear claims made by Edwin Poots

Agriculture Minister Poots, whose party, the DUP, campaigned for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in 2016, made the claim on BBC Radio Ulster’s The Stephen Nolan Show on Thursday morning.

Minister Poots claimed the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is contained in the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom government and the European Union, was responsible for disrupting the movement of goods from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland.

Minister Poots and the DUP reject the suggestion that the disruption is a direct consequence of Brexit.

“It was made very clear to us by the suppliers to both hospitals and schools that if the current arrangement for supermarkets isn’t extended in a few months’ time that they will not be able to supply our hospitals and schools with food,” said Minister Poots.

“That is a major crisis and I have raised this with Michael Gove.

“Seriously, are we going to have a situation where our hospitals and schools are not able to feed the children at school, they’re not able to feed their patients?

“That is an outrageous situation that we in Northern Ireland have been put in as a result of the protocol negotiated between the UK Government and the European Union.”

When contacted about the claims made by Minister Poots a DoH spokesperson advised that they have not received any reports of major issues related to food shortages or supply difficulties from HSC Trusts.

“The Business Services Organisation (BSO) has informed the Department that there has not been any major disruption on food supplies into NI hospitals due to EU Exit.

“They have confirmed that there have been some minor delays, and a small number of products have had to be substituted with equivalents, but this is only for a temporary period.”

The departmental spokesperson added: “BSO has worked with Health and Social Care Trust Catering (HSC) Managers to agree a core list of ambient products that they have asked suppliers to hold for an additional 4-6 weeks stocks (in addition to PaLS stockholding of 4-6 weeks) and HSC Trusts also stand ready to change menus should that be required.

“It was further confirmed by BSO that their food contracts will also allow for flexibility and substitution for example, a move from fresh to tinned or frozen for example should that be required.

“BSO has confirmed that their suppliers do have a range of contingencies in place such as additional stockholding, use of alternative transit routes or moving to local supply.

“The DoH can assure the public the contingency plans that are in place ensure food supply will continue in line with nutritional standards,” the spokesperson concluded.