People’s experience of accessing health, wellbeing and community services when working in agriculture

Healthwatch West Sussex surveyed agricultural workers in Horsham and Chichester to understand the barriers they face accessing health, wellbeing and community services. Although only eight people responded, the findings highlighted common challenges linked to the demands of agricultural work. The main barriers were work pressures, inflexible appointment times and difficulties attending appointments alone. Respondents reported using a range of services including GP practices, pharmacies, NHS 111, hospital outpatient departments, mental health helplines and ophthalmology services. 

A significant finding was a lack of awareness of some support services. Respondents were often unsure how to access community groups, smoking cessation services, weight management programmes and some mental health support. Staying healthy, maintaining family connections and being respected by peers were identified as important priorities for wellbeing. 

Loneliness and isolation emerged as major concerns. Most respondents said they experienced loneliness or social isolation at least some of the time, with several linking this to long working hours, rural living and personal bereavement. To cope, people relied on informal support networks such as family, friends and social activities, including meeting friends regularly and staying in contact by phone.

Healthwatch concluded that agricultural workers would benefit from more flexible access to services, including appointments that fit around farming schedules. The report recommends sharing the findings with local health and care providers, improving awareness of available support services and carrying out further engagement with people working in agriculture to better understand and address their needs.