A former hospital manager is returning to Raigmore 20 years after he left, only this time as owner of the GreenThumb (Inverness) Lawn Treatment Franchise.
Alastair Watt, who previously worked at the hospital as manager for surgical services, explains that his team is helping the hospital with some weed and feed treatments plus moss control, on the lawns at the main entrance to the hospital – free of charge.
He said: “I was at this fantastic hospital for 10 years, and I had been thinking about giving something back, now I am nearing retirement. I had considered being a volunteer driver perhaps, but it occurred to me that my small business could offer something a bit different, something in which we have some expertise.
“We are planning several visits over the course of the year and are liaising with the Facilities Department to ensure we fit in with the regular grass-cutting schedules. If we get a good result, and the hospital would like us to return next year, I am sure we would be very pleased to help.”
Alastair explained that GreenThumb normally provides annual treatment programmes for residential properties with a network of 200+ franchises across the UK. With over 1,000 customers in the wider Moray Firth area, many of whom are NHS staff and patients.
He said: “An uplifting environment has long been recognised as being of therapeutic value in healthcare. Maggies’ Centres, including the one at Raigmore, have the surrounding environment as one of their core philosophies. We would be delighted if we were able to make a small contribution to that.”