Devon Doctors to help wildlife

The organisation responsible for the county's urgent GP out-of-hours healthcare has teamed up with Devon Wildlife Trust [DWT] in a bid to do its bit for the county's environment. As a social enterprise, committed to benefiting the community in which it operates, Devon Doctors has always attached great importance to environmental issues and jumped at the opportunity to become a corporate sponsor of Devon Wildlife Trust. Chief executive Chris Wright said: "While our first priority is always the wellbeing of our patients, we're mindful that we also have a responsibility to the environment and are at pains to ensure our carbon footprint is as small as possible." "Wherever we can we endeavour to assist callers to Devon Doctors over the phone but there will, inevitably, be occasions when we need to visit patients who are especially vulnerable, and unable to get to one of our treatment centres, in their homes. Indeed, last year our GPs visited more than 30,000 patients, as a result of which our drivers clocked up more than half-a-million miles." "While this is unavoidable, we're delighted to be able to redress the balance a little by lending our support to DWT." DWT's chief executive Harry Barton said: "We're thrilled to have the support of another not-for-profit organisation, which shares our aim of keeping Devon healthy. We look forward to working together for the benefit of the natural environment." In due course, Devon Doctors is looking forward to supporting DWT's Working Wetlands project and, in so doing, offsetting some part of its carbon footprint. The initiative involves the restoration of wetland areas, with the capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon in a similar way to coal but much more quickly, and is regarded as a local, long-term and effective alternative to standard offset schemes. What is more, Devon Doctors will be encouraging its staff to transform their gardens, and other locations, into bee-friendly zones in support of DWT's 2013 campaign to Get Devon Buzzing. This vital project encourages the use of plants that support the local bee population by providing bee homes, as well as campaigning for a reduction in the use of pesticides. "Devon Doctors is already acknowledged as one of the country's leading providers of urgent out-of hours care," said Mr Wright. "However, as a social enterprise, our corporate responsibility doesn't stop there and we look forward to working in partnership with DWT and to encouraging both staff and service users to protect the environment."

Devon Wildlife Trust's Tracey Ebbrell presents Devon Doctors Chief Executive, Chris Wright, with a certificate in recognition of their support.