Community services
Community services
Feature
My first visit began with meeting the horses , then sitting with the family at their dinner table , being offered local game and new potatoes for lunch . How could I resist ? Only then was I escorted upstairs to meet my person .
But seriously , I was forever astonished at how some people had just kept going with no services , all hands on deck , to look after their loved one . If only they had come to us earlier .
Then one evening , I was watching the television programme Country File , which was covering the North York Moors and discussing issues such as depression , suicide and domestic abuse within the far-flung farming communities .
Recognising the lack of resources available to these communities , the local District Nursing Service set up a hub at the local farmers market . The aim was to reach out and open up the conversations around physical and mental wellbeing . I remember thinking , ‘ we need this out in West Somerset ’.
I was given permission by senior management to look into what was on offer in West Somerset . Somerset ’ s Prevention Strategy details how our residents can be supported to live longer , fuller lives , with the right services being made accessible to them at the right time and in the right place .
I saw this as an opportunity to raise awareness of the advantages of prevention and early intervention , not just to the person , but to our statutory services , with our residents , local health professionals and community groups .
Services need to shape to accommodate the needs of an increasing elderly population and I felt developing rural outreach and making our Somerset Independent Living Centre ( SILC ) model more inclusive and accessible would fit well with that agenda .
This took me on a journey that led me to meet so many like-minded health professionals and volunteers , not to mention farmers .
The health hub
After much investigation , I discovered that there was an outreach District Nurse Hub in the form of an old portacabin situated in the carpark of Cutcombe Livestock Market .
I went there and met the mental health nurse and the district nurse and found out that they operated from the cabin twice a month on auction days ; Tuesdays for the sheep auction and Wednesdays for the cattle , hence capturing everyone .
When I asked if they would let me joint their small clinic they were overjoyed and extremely welcoming and it was great to hear them say ‘ we could really do with an occupational therapist ’.
So , from there on in – rain , sleet or snow – I set up what I can only describe as a mini-SILC in the back of the cabin . My equipment was kindly kept under lock and key there . The electric radiators often didn ’ t work , but we had Wi-Fi from the neighbouring machine and tool hire business , so with fingerless gloves on , I could work .
Over the months that followed , I learnt that the hub was supported financially by a Southwestbased livestock data tagging company . It was hugely supported by the National Farmers Union ( NFU ) and Living Better , who fund the nurses in the primary care networks .
I was invited to NFU evening events and had the opportunity to network with local GPs and other stakeholders , raising the profile of occupational therapy and promoting our SILCs and my outreach project .
It was wonderful and so encouraging to know that there are so many influential people out there who really do hold the health and wellbeing of farmers close to their heart .
The outcome
Sadly , the uptake of interest for the occupational therapy aspect of the hub was very poor . Noticeably , the same few farmers came regularly to have their blood pressure and cholesterol taken , but it was really hard to engage with them , despite going down to the auction rings , handing out flyers in the kitchen where they went for a cooked breakfast .
One gentleman told me ‘ people just want to get the best price for their stock , have a good breakfast and get back to the farm ’ and I get that . After six months , I reviewed the degree of uptake to my offer and rendered it not viable for me to continue . However , good things have come from it . Not to mention , meeting a whole host of people who are still working hard to promote health and wellbeing in our farming communities .
I am now running with ‘ plan B ’, which began as a mini-SILC presence at Dulverton ’ s Talking Café , and the GPs and nurses I have met over time know about us and send people our way .
Future plans may involve linking in with rural Parish Councils to promote and outreach to our more remote villages . It ’ s been a really interesting and enjoyable journey . An opportunity to test and learn .
Words AMY GREENING , Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist , Somerset Independent Living Centre in Wellington Amy . greening @ somerset . gov . uk
November 2024 OTnews 19