NHS patients prescribed fruit and vegetables by GPs

Before the project, only 28% of participants ate the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. This increased to 80% eight months after receiving the vouchers.

In addition, 7 out of 10 people with high blood pressure saw an improvement, and more than half of the participants said their mental health also improved because they worried less about money for food.

The project, led by the Alexandra Rose Charity, demonstrates how the quality of people’s diets improves when support is given to reduce financial barriers. The charity is now calling on the government to roll out fruit and veg recipes on the NHS for low-income households – and to continue with their existing commitment to pilot a three-year ‘Community Eatwell’ programme.

“Food-related ill health costs the UK £98 billion a year in costs to the health service and the economy. Behind these bald numbers lies untold misery for sufferers, their family and caregivers. All of this is disproportionately inflicted on those living in poverty,” says Henry Dimbleby, author of the National Food Strategy Independent Review.

“Through this simple action – providing fruit and vegetables on prescription, the government could do so much to alleviate this. And now the Alexandra Rose Charity has provided the hard evidence, there is no excuse for the delay. Their prescription fruit and vegetable project improves not only people’s diets and health, but also the health of the local food economy. I urge the Government to look at the impressive results of these pilot projects and explore how they can be replicated and scaled as part of a ‘Community Eatwell’ approach to tackling food-related health problems in the UK, as recommended in 2021 National Food. Strategy.’