fruit and vegetables

I am a public governor for Kettering General Hospital and was delighted to see they have a really popular stall for patients, visitors and staff.

Kettering General Hospital now has a fruit and vegetable stall outside of its main entrance as part of a plan to help promote healthy eating for patients, visitors and staff.

And the innovative move has been welcomed by local people who have been flocking to the stand - run by experienced green grocer Penny Benedict.

KGH Deputy Director of Human Resources, Sue Newing, said: “Selling fresh fruit and vegetables on site was an idea developed through our staff Health and Wellbeing Group, which is made up of staff drawn from across the Trust.

“It fits in well with our Health and Wellbeing Plan and our aim to become a Health and Wellbeing Campus in the future.

“We strongly believe that hospitals should be promoting good health and encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles choices.

“We felt that having an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables easily available on site would very much help with this.

“So far the reaction we have had from patients, visitors and staff has been very positive indeed and we are delighted things are going so well.”

Greengrocer Penny Benedict, who has two other shops in Leicestershire, said: “I approached the hospital to do some selling on site at same time as the hospital was looking for someone to do this - so the timing was perfect for both of us.

“So far it has gone really, really, well and I have practically sold out every day.

“It has been great to see patients, staff and visitors all dropping in and buying fruit and vegetables.

“Some people take in things for patients on the wards and I know some people have bought thank you gifts for staff they are grateful to.”

The stall is open from 8am-4pm Monday to Friday and the produce is very fresh – and competitively priced - because it is bought the same day at Leicester wholesale market.

Public response to new fruit and veg stall has been positive

Patients, staff and visitors have all been very positive about