Mobile health checks win praise from farming community in Northern Ireland

Lorna Barr, Helen McAuley and Bronagh McEldowney from the Farm Families Health Checks team with Seamus McLaughlin.

A mobile health initiative targeting Northern Ireland’s farming communities has been warmly welcomed by those it aims to support, with one farmer describing it as “the only way” to reach people who wouldn’t otherwise engage with health services.

Seamus McLaughlin, a farmer and Telecoms Officer for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, visited the Farm Families Health Checks van during a recent trip to Kilrea Mart. He praised the service for making vital health checks accessible in a familiar setting.

“It gives us a great opportunity to access health checks in a casual way, in a friendly and familiar environment, catching people who would otherwise never be near a health centre or hospital,” said Seamus.

The Farm Families Health Checks programme provides immediate access to a range of essential services including blood pressure monitoring, BMI analysis, cholesterol checks, and diabetic screening — all within a mobile clinic that travels to rural venues.

“I genuinely couldn’t believe how accessible it was,” Seamus added. “I can’t think of a single other service where you can get anything like that done, with just a short walk across a car park — never mind a car park you are going to be in anyway.”

The initiative is designed to meet the needs of busy farmers and rural dwellers who often struggle to find time to visit a GP. For many, health takes a back seat to daily responsibilities, but these mobile clinics offer an approachable alternative.

“It’s the only way you are going to catch a lot of the people who just wouldn’t take time out of their day to go look about their health, especially people that are just ‘getting on with it’,” said Seamus.

The trained nursing staff were also commended for their professionalism and clarity.

“The staff were great and explained everything really well. They gave good practical advice and demonstrations, and overall just made me feel comfortable,” he said.

“The scope of the tests was fantastic and covered the things that you were maybe curious about but would never take to a GP.”

With finger prick testing delivering immediate results, the mobile service helps avoid lengthy waits or additional follow-ups.

“Turnaround was quick… I got all my results then and there – no additional phone calls or follow-up required so nothing falls through the cracks,” Seamus noted.

“It is a great gateway for people who need additional help and otherwise wouldn’t know how to go about getting it. It probably also catches people who don’t even know they would benefit from getting these services.”

Summer schedule across Northern Ireland

The Farm Families Health Checks van will continue to visit key agricultural venues throughout the summer:

• Ballymena Mart – 11 July

• Castlewellan Show – 19 July

• Antrim Show – 26 July

• Omagh Mart – 28 July

• Clogher Valley Show – 30 July

• Fermanagh Show – 9 August

They will also be present at local livestock markets across the region.

Health matters in the field

Christina Faulkner, Farm Families Coordinator, expressed gratitude for Seamus’ support and encouraged others to make the most of the service:

“We were all delighted to hear about Seamus’ experience which really helps us to show how quick and easy it is to avail of our service,” she said.

“A visit to our mobile clinic could make all the difference in the long term and we’re looking forward to meeting with more farmers during the busy summer season and helping them to look after their health and wellbeing.”

For many in the farming community, these on-the-spot health services represent not just convenience, but a potentially life-saving opportunity.