THE cost of a cup of tea at North Devon District Hospital has almost doubled after a private firm replaced the League of Friends.

There was uproar from some quarters when the League decided to withdraw its voluntary services in December last year, after more than 30 years, when its members agreed it could not meet the requirements of Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT).

At the time, Doris Dibble, chairman of the North Devon District Hospital League of Friends, said her organisation could not provide extended opening hours or stock as wide a range of food as was required.

Now it has been confirmed that Sodexo will run the cafe; the firm is also temporarily running the shop and a contract will go out to tender later this year.

A cup of tea at the new Sodexo cafe now costs £1.10 — which is 50p more than what the League used to charge for a cuppa. Miss Dibble expressed shock at the cost increase, commenting that two teas would now set visitors back £2.20, which was in addition to the parking charge.

NDHT has just finished rebuilding a new outpatients' department which is due to open in July and the cafe will be moved to improve access and seating.

Iain Roy, director of facilities at NDHT, said: "The foyer at NDDH has not been updated for nearly 10 years. With the opening of the new outpatients department, we expect over 1,000 people a week will be passing through this area and upgrading the facilities was essential.

"Some of these people will be coming for an outpatient appointment. Some will be visitors accompanying patients and some will be existing inpatients or here for day surgery.

"We need facilities which meet all these different needs, which include longer opening hours and a wider selection of food and drinks among other things. We have had very positive feedback from staff and visitors on the interim facilities, particularly on the wider range of food and drink available."

The new cafe is open between 8am and 7pm Monday to Friday and between 10am and 7pm at the weekend.

When the League ran the cafe, it was open between 10am and 5pm Monday to Saturday and between 2pm and 4.30pm on Sundays. The League also put in a vending machine.

An NDHT spokesman told the

North Devon Journal

that income from the cafe was "commercially sensitive information and not available to the public". The spokesman also pointed out that the tea might now cost more, but it comes in a bigger cup and there is now a greater choice.

● The Hospital League of Friends, a registered charity, continues to raise money. You can contact them via Miss Dibble, at 25 Shorelands Road, Barnstaple, EX31 3AA.