Farmers encouraged to get health checkup at market

Farmers are being encouraged to get a health checkup at a livestock market as part of attempts to get them to talk about their health concerns.

A team of nurses will be on hand at the market in Cirencester on Tuesday.

They say they will be able to talk to farmers about both physical and mental health concerns. An NHS spokesman said they understood there could be barriers to accessing healthcare in a rural setting.

Karis Ramsay, clinical learning and development lead for the NHS in Gloucestershire said "farming can be a stressful life" which can lead to farmers' mental health suffering.

"Isolation and loneliness are phases often expressed by our farmers from all kinds of different farming backgrounds," she added.

"Farmers are telling us that they don't have time to do their farm work if they take time out to seek help so that puts even more pressure on them."

Other checks will include checking body mass index, blood pressure and heart rate.

The team will also check for signs of diabetes "if there is a clinical need".

Jule Zatman-Symonds, deputy chief nurse for NHS Gloucestershire, said farmers often suffer because they are an "overlooked" group for health.

"Often the issues experienced in our local farming communities can be overlooked because as a group they may be reluctant to seek help or find the time to attend appointments, which can then lead to poorer health and wellbeing outcomes," she explained.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.