New initiative improves farmers' access to healthcare
Almost 500,000 people in the UK work in agriculture. Long hours and isolation can harm farmers' physical and mental health. The demands of farm life can also keep farmers from seeking the care and support they need.
But thanks to local farmers speaking with Healthwatch about the challenges they face making health appointments at a fixed time, local GPs are taking a fresh approach to giving the local farming community better access to healthcare.
For many farmers, health is a problem
Farming is demanding and involves long hours, physical challenges, and risks from machinery, chemicals, and livestock.
Agriculture has a high rate of fatal accidents and occupational health issues and changing climate conditions and regulations add to the stress for many farmers.
Research, like the Big Farming Survey, has laid bare the health issues in the farming community, showing that around 36% of farmers may be depressed and over half experience pain and discomfort.
Local Healthwatch, along with other local organisations and members of the community, teamed up to learn more about local farmers' issues and find a solution.
Healthwatch County Durham has been working for a long time to improve health and social care services for rural communities. The stories shared by farmers highlighted the unique challenges they face in accessing care.
Fixed appointment times for check-ups, tests, and treatments may work for the NHS, but they can create challenges for farmers. They might have a scheduled appointment, but unforeseen circumstances, such as sudden changes in the weather, can make it difficult to leave the farm.
Drop-in success
The coalition agreed to test, with the help of local GPs at the Pinfold Medical Practice, a drop-in clinic for farmers.
Over a quarter of local farmers contacted by the GP practice came for a check-up, and six in 10 farmers who had health checks had problems identified that they did not know about.
"People were so welcoming, and the nurse was brilliant: put me at ease straight away. drop-in works for me due to time restrictions." — Farmer from Teesdale farming family.
This success led Pinfold Medical Practice to put on more drop-in clinics that also offer mental health check-ups. Other GP practices are trying the approach, and the regional NHS is eager to see the drop-in model implemented more broadly to support rural and farming communities.
Reflecting on the project, Tony Bentley from Healthwatch County Durham said:
"The success of this project just shows you what can happen when communities speak up about the challenges they face when accessing care, and local partners really listen and come together to do something about it."
Continuing to make care accessible
In another win for Healthwatch County Durham, those they’ve worked with, and most especially the communities they’re supporting, the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) ICB have agreed to include the drop-in approach to support rural and farming communities.
By providing access to a range of services during drop-in clinics, Healthwatch Country Durham is taking steps towards addressing the health inequalities impacting farming communities. They are also helping to highlight issues with healthcare access for rural communities.
Access to services and the health inequalities that rural communities experience is an issue that Healthwatch North Yorkshire have also highlighted. The health and wellbeing of rural communities is an issue we’ve highlighted recently and continue to hear about.
