Sarnie wars at hospital (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Sarnie wars at hospital

1:04pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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A VOLUNTEER who led a protest against changes to a sandwich contract for a tea bar at Broomfield Hospital said she didn’t regret what she had done – but said it was sad it had to happen.

Sue Morhall made national and local headlines after she was suspended for putting up posters and organising a petition highlighting the fact that the WRVS, which operates the facility, was ending the contract with a local supplier for sandwiches and bringing in a central supplier from 73 miles away.

Sue, 62, from Great Waltham, said she and the other volunteers were angry at not being consulted about the changes, which she claimed were wrong because of the effect on the environment of bringing the food from so far away.

She added: “The sandwiches we sell are fresh and locally sourced and were very popular with staff, visitors and patients.

“If they had not been very appetising I could have understood it. But why change something that doesn’t need it?”

Ms Morhall, who has been a volunteer for seven years, said: “It was so important to us all. I tried the new sandwiches and was not impressed at all.”

She was escorted from the hospital last week after she refused to give up her campaign.

Now she and the majority of the volunteers will cease working at the tea bar from yesterday (Wednesday).

She added: “I am not a trouble-maker, I am a hard worker. I don’t regret what I have done. I am just sad it has come to this.”

Julia Cook, communications officer for the WRVS, said: “We have to have contingency plans to cover staff sickness and holidays. We will be getting in volunteers from other local projects.

“We do regret the situation and don’t want the volunteers to leave.

“We will be able to make more money from the sale of refreshments under the new contract and that means a bigger proportion of the profits will go to the hospital and other projects. It should give us tens of thousands of pounds more and will make a difference.”

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