By Marjory Inglis, health reporter

NHS Tayside is to ban the sale of sugary drinks in Ninewells Hospital and Dundee’s dental hospital.

The sight of nurses in uniform sipping from sugar-loaded cans is about to become as rare as ward workers having a cigarette in hospital grounds.

Senior management met this week and agreed the ban, setting a date for withdrawal of all sugary drinks from sale on the premises.

They have given themselves just two months to reach a state of readiness for the ban and prepare the public for the September 17 launch date.

Vending machines will be cleared of bottles and cans containing fruit juices and fizzy drinks with added sugar.

The coup for those promoting exclusive availability of healthy drinks on the site is that they have persuaded commercial partners to go along with the ban—temporarily at least.

The ban is being run initially as a three-month pilot scheme but the expectation is it will be a success and made permanent.

A similar scheme was made permanent at PRI after a pilot period there in 2005.

Shops and the privately-run cafe in Ninewells’ main concourse have agreed to observe the ban, as well as vending machine operators who sell thousands of drinks each week.

But those who enjoy a spoon or two of sugar in their tea and coffee will be safe from the ban.

That was thought to be “a step too far” for the moment.

Paul Ballard, NHS Tayside’s assistant director of public health and one of the architects of the healthy drinks policy, said the problem with sugary soft drinks was that they contained “huge amounts” of added sugar.

Between six and eight spoons of sugar were added to each can or bottle of soft drinks, and they would be the focus of attention meantime.

For him it was about persuading people to change to healthier habits until sugar-free drinks became the norm.

He has taken a similar approach to Tayside’s ban on smoking in NHS premises, including hospital grounds.

“Just like the smoking policy, this is about developing a culture, slowly but surely. We are in a long-term plan here, taking one step at a time.”

NHS Tayside is believed to be the first health board in Scotland to go for a complete ban on sugary drinks at a hospital site.

“NHS Lothian removed sugary carbonated drinks from its sites but I understand they have not included the commercial sector in that,” said Mr Ballard.

One of the crucial factors in maintaining commercial sector support for the healthy drinks policy will undoubtedly be any effect on profit.

However that is expected to be less detrimental than it might have been a few years ago as the trend is already for more people to choose diet versions of their favourite soft drinks.