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