GPs to 'prescribe' fruit and veg

Patients will be encouraged to eat locally-grown produce

Family doctors in the Highlands are to prescribe locally-produced fruit and vegetables for their patients.

The six-month pilot is scheduled to begin soon, involving GPs in Ullapool.

As well as prescribing any medication or treatment, the project will allow doctors to sign up patients for subsidised boxes of fruit and veg.

The scheme is being spearheaded by Healthways Ross and Cromarty, a group set up to steer people towards healthier lifestyles.

Junk food

In many parts of the country doctors are already referring patients on to exercise programmes.

This scheme is an extension of that.

GPs will sign people up to a scheme under which they will get subsidised boxes of fruit and vegetables produced by local market gardeners.

The initiative will supply a market for the farmers, but will crucially attempt to wean people off junk food and and convenience meals.