OpenFields

1267: Health checks for farmers

Case studies of outreach projects

Year of Publication2011

Farmers are notoriously reticent in seeking health-care. Three projects offering drop-in health checks at auction marts were well used and appreciated. Musculoskeletal problems were most often presented by those coming in for attention for specific complaints but mental health and cardiovascular problems were the largest groups for farmers coming in for a general check up. The initiatives did not work in all locations but it was difficult to understand why this was. ‘There can be few communities within a Western society such as the UK where a ‘check up’ reveals significant health problems in 56% of those examined.’

This item is categorised as follows

• Subject Collection > Rural policy & development > UK rural policy
• Subject Collection > Social & community enterprise

Additional keywords/tags