Women and their families attending the maternity unit at the RVI have been enjoying free fruit and vegetables thanks to support from Newcastle Hospitals Charity.
The funding has provided fresh produce for patients to promote a healthy diet and support local families.
Patients at the unit have been encouraged to take a selection of fruit and vegetables while attending antenatal clinic appointments and scans and it’s believed the initiative is potentially benefiting more than 100 local families per day.
The fresh produce has been available to collect from the antenatal clinic waiting area beside the Maternity Vaccination Hub.
The offer is running Monday to Friday for three months.
Claire Lisle, Lead Midwife Public Health, said: “Thank you to Newcastle Hospitals Charity in enabling us to offer a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables to women and their families receiving care within our maternity services.
“It is wonderful to be able to support health and wellbeing in this way, and we encourage those using our maternity services to help themselves to the fresh produce when attending for care.”
Fay Darville, Engagement and Impact Manager at Newcastle Hospitals Charity, said: “We are really pleased to be supporting expectant parents visiting our maternity unit with fresh fruit and vegetables as they prepare for their new arrivals.
“By making this available, it helps families in a small but accessible way, to make healthier food choices.”
