A FRESH fruit and veg stall which has been operating outside the entrance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for a trial three-month period this summer is to become permanent.

And the experiment has proved so successful that the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust is planning to extend the scheme to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch later this month.

The move to establish the stall outside Worcestershire Royal Hospital was a joint project involving the trust and ISS – the firm contracted by the trust to supply catering, cleaning, portering and a mail service at the hospital.

A spokeman for the trust said part of the reason the stall was to try and discourage people from smoking around the entrance. Although the hospital has a non-smoking policy on the entire site, it is very difficult to enforce.

“We have had problems with people smoking by the main entrance and there is something about people not wanting to smoke around fresh food,” he said.

He said the trust also wanted to try and put out a message about healthy eating and healthy living to staff, visitors and patients. “It has been very well received among staff,” he said.

The stall is run by Solihull-based Fresh Ideas 4 You and is open from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.

Mr Quinn Speers, general manager of ISS Facilities said: “I was approached by the trust initially to source a company to sell fruit and vegetables at the main entrance to the site.

“This initiative has been popular across many other NHS trust sites nationally, including at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where positive messages of healthy eating are being promoted.

“My aim is for it to demonstrate our commitment to supporting staff and local enterprise and there is some evidence that it is discouraging smoking around the main entrance.”

David Woodhead, one of the Fresh Ideas 4 You partners who started selling fruit in Birmingham aged just 12 years, said: “We have had so many compliments and great feedback from our customers. People can’t believe what a great initiative this is.

“Some customers even travel to the hospital specifically to buy their fruit and veg from us. The staff here love us too and we are really pleased to be able to provide great quality fruit and veg on the doorstep of the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

“It’s proving so popular that we are hoping to set up a similar enterprise at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. We’ve even had the hospital chaplain Reverend David Southall come to the stall to help serve our customers at the end of his working day.”

Elisabeth Williams, hospital volunteer co-ordinator said: “The stall is great for staff and for morale here at the trust. It’s so easy to walk out the door and get fruit on your way home. I’ve also notice visitors buying fruit for the patients which is a very good thing.”

Rev Southall said: “I have been a fan of the stall ever since it opened and have got to know David and the rest of his staff. When I posted about it on Facebook I had so much response from people saying what a great idea it is and how lovely it is to buy such fresh local produce from outside the hospital entrance.

“I think it has given a real boost to staff morale and there is always a queue waiting to be served. David invited me to try my hand at selling some fruit on the stall and it is addictive. So who knows, it might be my next career move.”