Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE MP, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, has received a response from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) following his recent Written Parliamentary Question on improving farmers’ access to healthcare.
In his question, Julian asked what steps the Government is taking to encourage veterinarians and others who regularly interact with farmers to be trained in signposting them to health and support services.
Julian's question followed a constituency meeting with Healthwatch North Yorkshire, a health and social care champion, who raised concerns about those in the agricultural sector who face their own unique challenges that can mean they miss appointments or try to work through health challenges on which most other people would seek medical advice.
You can read Healthwatch North Yorkshire's 'Ploughing through barriers' report here.
In response, DEFRA confirmed that it recognises the importance of mental and physical health in rural communities and highlighted ongoing work to improve awareness and access to support. The Department pointed to initiatives such as the Farming Resilience Fund and partnerships with organisations like the Farming Community Network and RABI, which aim to provide practical and emotional support to farmers.
Commenting on the response, Julian said, “Farmers are the backbone of our rural economy, yet they often face significant barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare. I welcome the Government’s recognition of this issue and the steps being taken to improve signposting through trusted professionals like vets. However, there is more to do to ensure that farmers can get the help they need, when they need it.”
You can read Julian’s full questions, and departmental responses, on mobile health services, walk-in GP appointments and signposting for farmers, via Parliament’s website.
