Health centre patients to enjoy ‘therapeutic’ polycrub

THE HILLSWICK health centre has installed a polycrub on its grounds to let patients enjoy the benefits of growing fruit and vegetables.

It is thought that the project, which has been supported financially by NHS Shetland’s endowment fund, could be the first of its kind in Scotland and beyond.

Hillswick GP Susan Bowie said the idea was to allow patients, and members of staff, to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of tending to a polytunnel.

It will also help to promote healthy eating, while its gaze out towards the picturesque West Ayre beach surely ranks as one of the best polycrub views in the isles.

“It’s a nice communal space for people to meet each other and work away,” Bowie said.

“It’s going to be for patients who don’t have access to their own polycrub or polytunnel.

“Working in the polycrub is quite therapeutic and there may be patients who might benefit. We’ve also got visiting doctors working here, and it’s somewhere for them that they can be on call and do something as well.”

The newest @polycrub in #Shetland. And the only/first available to use by @nhshealthscotland patients. Nice view too https://t.co/UgYq6tOcSl pic.twitter.com/AcQo7BxvL7

— Tom Morton (@thebeatcroft) April 30, 2018

The GP added that having a polycrub attached to the surgery means it will “always be in the community”.

Bowie also hopes that it could provide another pull for doctors interested in working in Shetland.

NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts added that he was “delighted” that the endowment fund – a charity which receives donations from the public and organisations – could help towards the purchase of the polycrub in addition to funds from the Hillswick surgery.

The news comes after it was announced last week that Polycrub set to receive over £150,000 in funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to expand the business.