The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has backed the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District decision to reject the sponsorship because of the links between the fast food industry and obesity.

The sponsorship was offered to the hospital last year, but officially knocked back because it did not comply with NSW Health policy as it relates to product endorsement. AMA NSW president Michael Steiner said accepting such a proposal could create the wrong impression.

‘‘The perception when you accept a proposal like this is that there is some sort of partnership or acceptance,’’ he said. ‘‘While we’re not anti-McDonald’s ... obesity is such a problem is that it’s not a good look for a public hospital to be associated with a fast food outlet.

‘‘People who want to help the community, I’m sure, will find ways of doing that, but we’re speaking specifically here of a major world brand fast food outlet,’’ he said. In November the Mercury reported Warilla McDonald’s licensees Katia and Glenn Dwarte - respected charity workers in the region - offered a $66,000 sponsorship to the hospital.

The Dwartes previously donated $30,000 for a breathing machine at the hospital and a $35,000 medical transport cart to carry intensive care patients to and from the helipad.

However the present sponsorship offer is now believed to be from 10 McDonald’s restaurants, of which the Dwarte’s own two, in the Shellharbour area. The McDonald’s corporation owns the other eight.

In rejecting the McDonald’s offer, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) said it was open to discussions with McDonald’s, but the proposal would not go ahead in its present format.

‘‘Discussions were held with McDonald’s representatives last month,’’ an ISLHD spokeswoman said.

The sponsorship proposal did not comply with policy relating to sponsorship and product endorsement.

Neither McDonald’s nor the ISLHD would discuss the conditions put forward in the sponsorship package, but a McDonald’s spokeswoman said the company was reviewing the agreement to see if it could fit within the parameters of the health service’s policy.

She said McDonald’s wanted to support Shellharbour Hospital because of the company’s philosophy to support communities where its restaurants were sited and because: ‘‘Obesity is a complex issue and we want to be part of the solution. This can only be achieved if we work with government, industry and health professionals to develop strategies to address community concerns’’.