Doctors prescribe fruit and vegetables

Patients will be given tokens to buy fruit and veg

Doctors in north Staffordshire will soon be able to prescribe fruit and vegetables.

Patients who need to eat more greens will be given a token to spend on healthy food.

The project is expected to get under way later in the year when four GP practices in the area will take part in the scheme.

Siu-Ann Pang, programme leader, said most people do not eat enough fruit and vegetables.

Serious diseases

She said: "I think a lot of people know they need to eat more fruit and vegetables they just don't know why.

"In the long run it will help to reduce heart disease, help to maintain people's weight and reduce diabetes which is very important."

Ms Pang said it could also help people who were overweight with high blood pressure.

The annual Health Survey in England carried out in January revealed that only one in four people ate enough fruit and vegetables to protect themselves from cancer and other serious diseases.

Experts recommend at least five portions of fruit and vegetables should be eaten every day.