HEALTH chiefs have slammed a Hampshire hospital for having a fast food restaurant on its premises.

Patients being treated for heart disease and other illnesses linked to a poor diet have to walk past the Burger King at Southampton General Hospital.

A government poster offering advice on healthy eating is pinned to a wall just yards from the takeaway.

Less than a year ago consultant diabetologist Dr Peter Betts told a House of Commons select committee that obesity was a health time bomb likely to cause increasing problems unless urgent action was taken.

Embarrassed hospital bosses say they are powerless to do anything about it.

Marilyn Kay, public relations manager at the hospital, said the problem was that the shop spaces in the foyer were leased out through a private company and it was they who had agreed the deal with Burger King.

She added that Burger King still had 12 years left on its lease and that the hospital had no authority to terminate the contract.

Mrs Kay said the hospital was very uncomfortable with the situation.

She said: "We don't like it and it's clearly embarrassing, but we have to put up with it."

The chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity has spoken out against the hospital for not promoting a healthier diet and way of life.

Dr Howard Stoate said: "If a hospital is home to a major supplier of a food that is high in fat, sugar and salt, it sends out the wrong message.

"Hospitals should not promote products that have been linked to heart problems, diabetes, arthritis, respiratory difficulties and even cancer."

Burger King currently has five restaurants in UK hospitals and more than 700 across Britain in total.

A spokesman for the chain said Burger King offers a wide variety of food and meals to suit all dietary requirements and that the company was also working to reduce the salt and fat contents of their food.

Figures from Burger King's own website show a typical meal of a whopper burger, regular fries and regular fizzy drink provides 1,100 calories, 50g of sugar and 50g of fat. The recommended daily intake is 2,000 calories and 95g fat for women and 2,500 calories and 95g of fat for men.