GP prescribes meat for patients

Dr Haslam believes the project should be government funded

A doctor in Hertfordshire is handing out prescriptions for discounts on red meat instead of medicine.

Dr David Haslam, who works at a surgery in Watton at Stone, is offering obese patients a healthy eating plan and a 10% discount at their local butcher.

"We are making healthy food more accessible and more affordable to people who need it most," Dr Haslam, of the National Obesity Forum, said.

The project is jointly funded by the British Meat Industry and the surgery.

Dr Haslam said: "This could have been done with 10% off sprouts, but red meat is much more interesting and imaginative.

"I don't see why we shouldn't give food on prescription so long as it is healthy food."

Dr Haslam believes the project should be government funded.