STAFF and visitors have slammed plans to reduce restaurant opening hours at Farnborough's Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH).

From next month the canteen will be open from only 7.30am to 2.30pm on weekdays and will close entirely on weekends, meaning for much of the week hard working doctors and nurses may struggle to get a proper meal.

It was previously open from 7am to 7pm throughout the week and weekend.

The PRUH has claimed services will be unaffected because of extensive work on the Costa Coffee in the main entrance of the hospital - which will also extend the time it is open.

But John Edwards, 38, from Orpington, who has recently been visiting his grandmother at the hospital, is unhappy with the decision.

He said: "I am disgusted about the whole thing.

"Some of the nurses are working from 2pm to 10pm.

"Toasted ciabattas are not going to provide them with a proper hot meal."

The decision was made by ISS Facility Services, which provides the restaurant facilities and staff along with South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Mr Edwards said: "It shows a complete disregard for people who use the facilities.

"They're cutting a cheap service and offering a more expensive one.

"Not everyone can afford to buy a ciabatta from Costa Coffee for £4.50."

A statement released by the PRUH said: "After analysis of the main restaurant service, it was identified the current opening times and costs of the restaurant were not economic and were therefore unsustainable."

A member of the restaurant staff, who wishes to remain anonymous, is concerned there may be redundancies among the restaurant staff.

He said: "Many of the staff have worked there for a long time.

"I have been there for a long time.

"Some of us may lose our jobs."

ISS admitted staff will be affected.

It said: "ISS is keen to retain as many staff as possible and plans to offer those affected alternative roles within the contract to minimise any redundancies."