Farming is an active occupation, fact.
Farmers work long hours, often in physically demanding work and pride themselves on their strength and endurance, not only through the days, but through the years.
They will look after their animals, ensuring they have the best care and highest level of attention when things aren’t quite right. Unfortunately, they don’t give their own health quite the same level of care and attention…
Muddling through and just getting on with things is standard behaviour and, with long hours, often requiring them to eat on the go, issues with high cholesterol and cardiac health can go unnoticed.
Recent studies from across the globe have highlighted that farmers may well be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In 2020, researchers at Teagasc in Ireland found that “74% of male farmers have four, or more, risk factors for cardiovascular disease,” meaning that “they are three times more likely to have an acute cardiac event (stroke or heart attack) compared to those with fewer risk factors.”
A similar story was painted in a recent review in America. While farmers were often healthier than the general population, they also showed high levels of cardiovascular disease. In fact, “Heart disease is the number one cause of death in … rural, male farmers in the United States.”
With so many pressures already existing on a farmer’s time, it can be difficult to prioritise oneself over the never-ending list of jobs that need completing. And when you do manage to carve out some ‘spare’ time, who wants to spend it in a doctor’s surgery?
Enter a new wave of charities and groups offering farmers and their families access to health checks in an easy, efficient, and convenient way.
You may have seen them at Livestock Markets or at your local show – nurses and medical practitioners on hand to offer health checks to help identify early indications of ill health. We’ve spoken to a few of them to see exactly what they offer…
Northern Ireland
The Farm Families Health Check Programme (FFHCP) has been available in Northern Ireland since 2012. They have a bespoke van, manned by trained nurses and can be found at farmers’ marts and most rural events. The programme has been accessed by over 25,000 clients, of which over 11,000 were referred to their GP following the checks.
Christina Faulkner, FFHCP Coordinator explains: “We all know farmers work long hours, often isolated and lonely not taking time to look after themselves. We at Farm Families Health Checks can reach these farmers and provide them with health screening with onward signposting and referral through the mobile clinic.”
Early identification has helped ensure clients have time to make lifestyle changes and/or see further medical intervention to help prevent more serious long-term ill health complications developing.
To learn more CLICK HERE
Call 028 2563 5573 or email farm.families6@northerntrust.hscni.net
Wales
Launched this week at the Royal Welsh Show, Farming Fit is the new kid on the block and will be delivered in partnership between Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board, and Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations.
Farming Fit will be working across Powys, offering basic health checks at three livestock markets and encourage farmers to reach out to GPs if necessary.
Dr Greg Langridge-Taylor, Senior Manager, Community Health and Wellbeing says: “Farmers are the lifeblood of our rural communities in Powys, and the Farming Fit project aims to support the early identification of any health issues Powys farmers. Additionally, our outreach team will provide a safe space for farmers to discuss anything which is impacting their wellbeing. In doing this we hope to support our farmers to remain fit to farm, enabling them to keep Britain fed.”
To learn more CLICK HERE
Scotland
For those in Scotland, RSABI’s Health Hut initiative, launched in 2023, brings physical and mental health advice and support to auction markets, shows and other events around the country.
Similar to initiatives in other areas, RSABI have recognised that living in remote locations, along with long working hours means that, too often, those working in the industry fail to prioritise their health. The Health Hut initiative brings important wellbeing advice and support to them and allows farmers to confidentially discuss any health concerns they may have! RSABI’s growing team of Health Hut professionals are medically trained and all come from a farming background and are hugely passionate about the initiative. Their services include checking blood pressure, testing cholesterol and early diabetes detection which is vital as one in 20 people in Scotland have diabetes.
To learn more CLICK HERE
England
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society supports agriculture, rural and allied industries throughout the North of England. As part of their mission, the Society provide sources of help to farmers – practical, financial and medical – through its Yorkshire Rural Support Network.
The Network was one of the consortium of organisations that recently secured £150,000 from Defra to deliver health and well-being support to farmers and rural communities across the North of England over the next two years. As part of this new funding, YAS will be offering 14 farming focused first aid training courses and 10 mental health awareness courses for farmers and those working with farmers.
Another of the organisations to benefit from the funding is The Field Nurse Trust, also based in Yorkshire. Field Nurse was set up in 2016 and is funded by donations and grants and supported by the Royal Countryside Fund. Some of the local individuals who set up Field Nurse had previously worked within the rural community and had spent time travelling around working on isolated rural farms and very much recognised the need to support farmers.
The service has developed and uses experienced registered nurses who run drop in sessions at local marts where farmers can just pop in for a chat or a blood pressure check. The team of experienced registered nurses can carry out basic health screening including blood pressure, weight checks and eye tests etc, with follow up as necessary. You don’t need an appointment and they can be found at the following locations:
- Brock Auction Mart – Tuesdays
- Clitheroe Auction Mart – Tuesdays
- Bentham Auction – Wednesdays
- Skipton Auction Mart – Alternate Wednesdays
- Gisburn Auction Mart – Thursdays and Saturdays
At the recent Great Yorkshire Show, Field Nurse offered their drop-in health check service to visitors and Matt Donnelly from Together an Active Future who is working with the team, demonstrated some exercises every farmer can do as part of their everyday routine.
To learn more CLICK HERE
So, the next time you’re at a livestock market, show, or out and about, why not put yourself first for a change, and take five minutes for a mini health MOT?
Hopefully there will be nothing to worry about, but if you do have raised cholesterol levels or signs of cardio-vascular disease, those five minutes could make all the difference.
