AIBU?
Beeswax2017 · 02/09/2015 15:02
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londonrach · 02/09/2015 15:09
Seriously! If you having a coffee in a nhs cafe the last thing you be thinking of is a rainforest. Ryan air is a company who wants to look good hence why they chose that coffee. The nhs is a none profit organisation aiming to save lifes, helping people. It like comparing apples with tomatoes! I work in the nhs and apart from water which patients help themselves to we dont offer any drinks or for that matter any food.
Twinkie1 · 02/09/2015 15:12
The coffee you buy in an NHS hospital is probably purchased for a shit load more than any Rainforest Alliance coffee would cost to buy. People are seriously delusions if they think the NHS give two shines shits about saving their money to spend it on lifesaving treatment. I've seen it first hand. They have to purchase from NHS supplies which is expensive but hey ho, there are procedures!!
kateemo · 02/09/2015 15:13
Also a bit unfair to put this on the NHS. Just about ever auxiliary service in hospital (cleaning, catering, laundry) is outsourced to a private company. So it's not up to them what's sold in the cafe. DH's hospital has a cafe that isn't open all the time and an M&S. Both private companies running them.
wasonthelist · 02/09/2015 15:22
YABU I bet you a trillion euros Ryanair doesn't give a flying flip about rainforest certification (except possibly as a way to jack up the prices). I certainly wouldn't want the NHS taking lessons from Ryanair about anything. I suspect that in the same way there seems to be a different coffee logo on the cart everytime I get on a train, Ryanair chooses coffee suppliers based on what's in it for them (Ryanair)
meditrina · 02/09/2015 17:42
NHS doesn't actually run these services. They contract out, and (I hope) make some profit in letting the space.
So they have very limited control over what is offered.
I doubt they could afford to bring catering back in-house.
But a I have long thought that NHS should employ some of eg Tesco's most shark-like contracts managers to get better VFM. And though I'd start with drugs/equipment budgets, not catering (though if coming up for renewal, there's always scope for improvements; changes at other times are woefully expensive).
wasonthelist · 02/09/2015 18:37
I am glad the NHS doesn't waste time/money pratting about ensuring all coffee carries a stamp of who knows what real actual value. I hope they are (and will continue) to concentrate on patients, and I hope to crikey that people like the op don't manage to hijack their agenda.
Salmotrutta · 02/09/2015 19:02
I had to attend a breast screening recall assessment at hospital a couple of months ago and tried to calm down beforehand by having a coffee in the hospital cafe.
I was so nervous I'd arrived way too early for my appointment.
Frankly I couldn't have cared less where the bloody coffee came from because I was terrified they were going to find something horrible at the clinic.
Fortunately I was fine (phew) but I still wouldn't have cared where the cafe got its beverages from.
NotCitrus · 02/09/2015 19:14
Actually it's already policy that NHS coffee and tea should be at least 50% fairly traded (generally translated as RA or Fair Trade), but that will only happen when contracts come up for renewal, and obviously for cafes that the NHS controls, not concessions.
There's various standard specifications the public sector can use when buying all sorts of generic stuff including food, which should lead to saving money on contracts eventually.
Ellreejee · 02/09/2015 19:15
Im a bit 
at these.
Surely the NHS should not just be limited to do one thing when it can influence many other things and make a huge difference.
I think people expect too little from the NHS. If they improved all their suppliers it would make a monumental change, maybe not to you but to others across the world.
SmugairleRoin · 02/09/2015 19:17
From what I've read about Rainforest Alliance they are not actually FairTrade certified and do not have to pay minimum prices (this was in Unfair Trade, although this doesn't prove anything: I think Cadburys had a minimum price deal that was actually far below the standard global price for cocoa).
So...YABU. Just because something is from a large group that we see as ethical does not in fact mean it's the best deal for producers.
MinesAPintOfTea · 02/09/2015 19:22
I actually think that the nhs should sell coffee etc as cheaply as possible. Some people will be struggling for cash and unable to go far.
Ryanair have decided the extra profit for each cup is worth the loss of some sales, I don't think the nhs should make the same decision.
I say this as someone who always buys fair trade
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