Patients, visitors and staff at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone will be able to pick up essentials without leaving the site, thanks to a newly-opened M&S store.

On Thursday (August 16) Barts Health NHS Trust officials and Marks and Spencer representatives joined forces for a ribbon cutting and to celebrate the opening of the shop.

Deborah Madden, director of operations at Whipps Cross University Hospital, said: “We’re thrilled to have the new M&S Simply Food store here at the hospital.

“With its wide range of products on offer, people will have even more food and drink options to choose from.”

The Simply Food store is open seven days a week, from 7am to 9pm on weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on weekends.

Spencer Sheen, business development director at WHSmith, which owns the M&S Simply Food brand, said: “Whipps Cross University Hospital is a fantastic addition to our hospital business, allowing patients, staff and visitors the convenience to access the wide range of products available.

“We look forward to welcoming customers to our new M&S Simply Food store.”