Purchasing is usually within the institution, in the cafeteria or from drink and snack distributors, purchasing stamps, newspapers etc. Staff can also organise accompanied visits to supermarkets to enable the sick to make their own choice from the numerous products on offer; these visits have, however become more rare because of reductions in staff. To empower patients and maintain their autonomy, one Paris hospital encourages patients, whose state of health allows, to make their small purchases in the locality, which enables them, in particular, to purchase their tobacco; this is an example that institution situated near shopping areas should take up. 122 Upon the arrival of patients, cash is provided to the hospital administration or, where it is small sum, to health care staff. Thus, in the institutions inspected, patients’ money is kept in a safe within the institution except for sums of about €20 held in a named locker in the nurse's office. This sum is handed over upon request and is essentially, for cafeteria purchases or to purchase cigarettes, either directly or indirectly. Some institutions have a "patient bank", generally situated near the cafeteria enabling those who are hospitalised to deposit money and to withdraw sums in cash to meet their small expenses during their hospitalisation. The CGLPL believes that patients with financial resources should have access to sums enabling them to live decently. It notes that the existence of patient banks encourages the autonomy of those who are hospitalised without their consent. Liberty of choice of meals As has already been demonstrated in other areas, practices in relation to meals vary from one institution to another but differences between specialist institutions and units within a general hospital should also be noted. General hospital centralised kitchens often provide less choice to psychiatric centres than they would have with autonomous cooking. Thus, members of staff in the kitchens of a general hospital have told the CGLPL that an order form setting out possible choices is distributed to hospital departments except for psychiatric departments. For the latter, the choice has been made to create communal dishes per table, a choice which certainly matches the conviviality aspect often mentioned as playing a therapeutic role, but nevertheless it deprives patients of a choice of menu except for those on special diets. The CGLPL has found that in a large number of institutions inspected, patients not subject to medical restrictions did not always have a choice of menu. Autonomy should also exist in the context of meals and patients should be able to feed themselves in line with their personal convictions and in particular their religious beliefs. However, frequently pork-less menus are supplied without meals being offered based on the religious food beliefs of patients. On the other hand, a hospital in the south of France includes individual choice (vegetarian and vegan), based on patients’ meal instructions in addition to required medical diets and as well as food codes relating to their religion. On the meal instructions also appears the wording "Does not like". Patients, from the time of their admission, can also let staff know of their aversion to this or that dish which is then replaced by another. In some institutions, patients can take their meals in the institution cafeteria accompanied by staff. This facility is preferred by 122 The sale of tobacco is prohibited in these institutions. 140