The Fruit Shop - NHSGGC Public Health Resource Unit

area based, multi-component, multi-agency project with a strong
community focus that aims to prevent CHD, to promote good health
and to reduce health inequalities in Paisley. HaHP pulls together
action on the lifestyle factors that affects a person’s risk of suffering
from CHD and in doing so pays attention to people’s life
circumstances.
Although it will be some time before the effect of this project will be
seen in Paisley’s rate of heart disease, HaHP is already believed to
be making an impact on health. HaHP has helped to develop Paisley-
wide strategies to help make healthier choices in relation to eating,
tobacco and physical activity more acceptable and easier to make.
HaHP has a Healthy Eating Strategy, which addresses two key
stands: -
• The need for a greater choice of healthier food
• The levels of knowledge and skills of individuals and
communities have in relation to health eating
HaHP provided initial start-up funding to the fruit shop in the Royal
Alexandra Hospital in 2002 as part of its commitment to community
initiatives.
The hospital fruit shop
The hospital fruit shop is a commercial venture located in a busy
urban hospital setting to serve all staff, visitors and patients. It was
conceived in response to growing rates of cardiovascular disease in
an area of low socio-economic status. The hospital in question, the
Royal Alexandria Hospital (RAH), Paisley, is a large District General
Hospital serving a population of over 200,000 people. It employs
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