Ploughing through barriers: Understanding the challenges and promoting help-seeking in farming communities

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Summary of report content

Healthwatch North Yorkshire  wanted to understand the key health and wellbeing issues affecting the farming community in North Yorkshire and the barriers they faced in getting help. They undertook a survey and phone interviews, reaching 220 people.

The top three health and wellbeing issues raised were identified:

  • 74% had experienced back, joint, knee, shoulder or muscle pain
  • 42% had experienced stress & anxiety
  • 31% had experienced sleep problems

Key barriers included:

  • Time constraints due to farming responsibilities
  • The cost of taking time off
  • Difficulties arranging and attending appointments
  • Access issues in rural areas
  • Concerns over gun licences being revoked
  • Lack of awareness about available services
  • Limited health knowledge
  • Fear and anxiety about using services
  • Stigma about seeking help
  • Reluctance to burden the system
  • Perception that health professionals do not understand farming
  • A preference for consulting vets over GPs
  • Concerns over confidentiality
  • Belief that farming comes before health

The report contains nine recommendations about:

  •  bringing services to the farming community
  • Ongoing support through community based approaches
  • Improving communication and awareness
  • Use trusted professionals working within the farming community
  • Improve accessibility and trust

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General details

Local Healthwatch
Healthwatch North Yorkshire
Publication date
Key themes
Access to services
Booking appointments
Consent, choice, user involvement and being listened to
Health inequality
Lifestyle and wellbeing; wider determinants of health
Service organisation, delivery, change and closure
Staffing - levels and training
Written information, guidance and publicity

Methodology and approach

Was the work undertaken in partnership with another organisation?
No
Primary research method used
Interviews
Survey
If an Enter and View methodology was applied, was the visit announced or unannounced?
N/A

Details of health and care services included in the report

Details of health and care services included in the report
District nurse and community nursing
General Practice (GP)
Hospital services- not stated

Details of people who shared their views

Number of people who shared their views
220
Seldom heard groups
People who are geographically isolated
People with limited family or social networks
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