Published: 22nd March 2024
Hospitals see a great many people come through their doors, both as patients and visitors. It can be a difficult time for everyone involved, so it is important to take as many steps as possible to make their time there as easy and comfortable as possible.
Whilst their healthcare is the priority, there are other things that can be done to support the wellbeing of patients, and this can be something as simple as some well-placed vending machines.
Visits to a hospital can take place at any time of the day, and it can mean that the hospital kitchens are closed. Having vending machines placed throughout the hospital site can mean that there is still access to food and hot drinks 24 hours a day, to ensure that patients and visitors alike have access to some sustenance whenever they need it.
Vending machines are often thought of as only containing crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks, but this is not always the case. They are now sophisticated enough to be able to offer much healthier choices such as fruit, yoghurts, soup and salads, meaning that they can support patient recovery in the best way possible.
Hospitals can be huge places, and there may not be many kitchens, canteens and cafes dotted around. Most patients will not be encouraged to wander too far from their wards, and so the trek to the nearest café can often prove to be too much of a distance. However, vending machines can be installed almost anywhere, ensuring that they are easy to access for all patients, no matter where they find themselves in the hospital.
Visitors can often find the trip to a hospital a difficult one. Whether they are sat at a bedside or in a waiting room, they can be there for a long time and in a dry atmosphere.
However, they often do not want to go searching for a drink and leave their loved one for any prolonged period of time, so hospital refreshment solutions such as vending machines mean that they can have access to food and beverages without having to stray far from the person that they are with, which can often go a long way towards keeping them happy and patients more relaxed.
A hospital might be the place that you go to in order to get better, but it can also be rife with germs and bacteria. Many people in the building may have compromised immune systems, and so every effort is taken to protect them from the risk of infection.
Well placed vending machines can help to keep this under control, as it can prevent patients from straying too far, and ensures they do not need to stand in long queues amongst many other people where they are then putting their health at risk.
Many vending machines are now fully equipped to accept contactless payments. This means that patients do not need to worry about having a constant supply of change available, and can access what they want, when they want it as long as they have a credit or debit card with them.
The contactless option also makes the machines more hygienic, meaning that there is much less risk of picking up bugs and viruses.
Vending machines can play a significant role in keeping a hospital working effectively. When patients and visitors have access to the food and drink that they need at any time of the day or night, then they are much more likely to have a positive experience as possible whether they are there for hours or weeks.
