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Bringing in Foods & Fluids

Having a healthy lifestyle helps patients to feel good – physically, mentally and emotionally. We work closely with patients, supporting them to balance how much they eat with how much they exercise. We rely on visitors working with us to support patients to make positive changes to their lifestyle, particularly around access to snacks.

Our patients currently enjoy nutritionally balanced meals that are cooked on site. They are able to supplement their intake via the Hospital shop, and from food and fluids provided from visitors. Patients can also access a monthly takeaway meal.

The following Food and Fluid Items are Prohibited – due to Security, Food Hygiene and Pharmaceutical restrictions

  • Alcohol or products containing alcohol (e.g. chocolates, cakes, pies, some festive products such as liqueur chocolates / mince pies or mouthwash).
  • Any products in a metal, tin or glass container (including coffee).
  • Chewing / bubble gum.
  • Any item without a manufacturers’ heat seal (such as supermarket bakery items, cakes in bakers’ box, home baking, items from Greggs or Subway etc).
  • Any item containing grapefruit or grapefruit juice as this can adversely react with some medications.
  • Raw meat, fish, poultry or eggs. Cooked egg products are permitted for a visit session.
  • Protein powders and supplements.  A single energy drink or protein bar may be consumed at a visit.
  • Any products that require freezing at point of purchase or after opening.
  • Any products that require refrigeration (excluding fruit) at the point of purchase are only permitted to be consumed during a visit (see below).

Foods Permitted for Consumption during the Visit

For the purposes of searching and scanning at Reception, food must be separated; food for consumption during visit and food to go the ward.

To assist the staff at Security this food must be in separate bags BEFORE you arrive. This can then be placed in a maximum of two trays if required; one for food to be consumed at the visit and one to go to the ward.

Any item that requires refrigeration will only be permitted for consumption at the visit. These items cannot be stored at ward level and cannot be shared during high supervision visits.

Any items that are not consumed during the visit will be disposed of or given to the visitor to take away.

Food items that can be delivered to the ward for patients

Patients have a locker in the dayroom corridor (approximately 30cm x 30cm which is the length of a ruler; 12 inches) that they can use to store items.  They can also store some items in their room. Storage space at the ward level is also limited. 

Please be mindful of the quantity and size of items you bring—generally, only what would be consumed within a week.  A selection from the following list may be brought into the Hospital per visit to be taken to the ward.  Note – not per person for consumption at a later stage.

  • Fresh fruit with peeling skins (e.g. apples, oranges, satsumas, bananas, pears).  No large fruits such as watermelon or pineapple as these cannot be prepared/cut up for patients on site.
  • One container of soft fruit (which may require refrigeration) e.g. blueberries / strawberries / plums / cherries. Please remove any net bags used to transport fruit.
  • One individual bag of dried fruit or nuts (maximum 500g).
  • Three bottles (maximum 1.5 litre each) of no added sugar drinks (squash, fizzy drinks and water).
  • UHT (long life) cartons of fruit juice / smoothie (maximum 250ml each).
  • Teabags, coffee and other manufacturer sealed sleeves of hot drinks (e.g. malted milk, hot chocolate, Bovril). 
  • Individual pots of UHT (long life) desserts (e.g. custard, yoghurts, rice, fruit tubs).
  • One plastic container of preserves e.g. jams, spreads (chocolate, peanut, honey) – which do not require refrigeration after opening (not over 1kg) in size).
  • Four standard chocolate bars or packets of sweets (e.g. mints, gums).
  • One packet of sweet/savoury biscuits or crackers.
  • One small pack / box of individual cakes / cereal bars (maximum six items/portions).
  • Six individual standard bags of crisps / savoury snacks (e.g. Bombay Mix, mini crackers).
  • One box of breakfast cereal.

Special Occasions

In addition to the items listed above, the following may also be brought in:

  • One manufacturer sealed birthday cake (no fresh/artificial cream unless consumed at visit) may be brought in during the two-week period before / after a patient’s birthday.
  • One Christmas /seasonal item (e.g. selection box, chocolate Santa, box of biscuits {in a sealed cardboard/plastic container} etc.) during the month of December.
  • One standard size chocolate egg in the two-week period before or after Easter.
Tray size for brining in foods and fluids during visits - A maximum of two trays containing food / fluid items can be accommodated per visit (not per visitor). Internal tray dimensions: 430mm x 350mm x 170mm.


If you need further advice please email TSH.PersonCentredImprovementTeam@nhs.scot or telephone 01555 842054.