A DAMNING report has criticised Southampton General Hospital and a city leisure centre for the level of junk food it offers patients and visitors.

A snapshot survey of centres in England and Wales found an array of fatty snacks, fizzy drinks and chocolate bars on offer in vending machines and canteens.

The Soil Association report found that the Burger King outlet at Southampton General Hospital was so centrally placed it was used as a landmark in directions to hospital departments.

Bitterne Leisure Centre was found to be selling heavily-branded confectionery and drinks along with a further 16 outlets in the report.

The pro-organic group said unhealthy food was being sold and promoted "extensively" to patients, staff and visitors in the health outlets surveyed.

The It's Not What The Doctor Ordered' report took into account 17 sport and leisure outlets across the country and five hospitals.

Researchers looked at the food available to patients, staff and visitors at on-site canteens, restaurants and vending machines.

Soil Association policy director Peter Melchett said: "Venues that are supposed to be helping people become healthier and fitter should not be offering up such poor quality food. Children and patients deserve better."

Southampton General Hospital's catering manager Stella Gardener said healthy options were on offer in the establishment's food outlets.

"We aim to offer a wide variety of food and drink for patients, staff and visitors, and healthy options are always available," she said.

"The restaurant at Southampton General Hospital has a well-stocked salad bar and we always highlight a healthy meal choice of the day.

"Our vending machines offer fruit, water and juice-based drinks as well as more substantial meals which need to be available to our doctors and nurses round the clock."

Southampton City Council, which runs Bitterne Leisure Centre, said its 20p sweet dispensers would be removed by the beginning of August.

A spokesman said: "We are confident that people using our venues are capable of making informed decisions about what they choose to eat.

"The vending machines referred to in the Soil Association report are already in the process of being removed as a result of customer feedback which we have received. Customers felt that the 20p dispensers were poor value for money and were unhealthy."

The spokesman added that the Soil Association report had praised The Quays swimming and diving complex in the city centre for inviting a local NHS dietician to look at its café menu and to advise on how to offer a more balanced range of choices.