Hub improves healthcare access for farmers and rural communities
Hundreds of farmers and people who live in rural areas are getting easier access to healthcare thanks to a market health hub.
The Trust has been working in partnership with the local primary care network, Imagine If and the University of Exeter to deliver the Market Health Hub in Holsworthy.
The hub has been a huge success since it was launched in 2023. There have been over 700 people, including farmers and visitors, using the service, from north Cornwall, north Devon and beyond.
The average UK farmer is 60 years old. 40% are over 65. Almost half work more than 81 hours a week. With such demanding schedules, healthcare often falls to the bottom of the list.
Mental health is a major concern. A 2024 survey found that 91% of farmers believe poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem in farming. The Office for National Statistics reported that in 2023, 88 men working in agriculture died by suicide.
The market health hub in Holsworthy offers health advice and support in places farmers already go, like livestock markets and pop-up venues. It brings care closer to home. This means farmers and their families can get help without leaving their community.
Rachel Williams is a consultant respiratory practitioner for the Trust. In January 2024, she linked with Imagine If Farming Health Hub and started attending Holsworthy Market in May 2024 - bringing different services each month.
The project was formed by Sue Banks. She is a retired vet and market chaplain. Sue began scoping the development of a new healthcare intervention aimed at farmers.
The hub began with monthly blood pressure monitoring and finger prick test service for farmers. The local primary care network provided the initial service base at the market.
The hub is now firmly established. Since the service was made available to the public, 100 people have required blood pressure referrals. Just under 30 have required a diabetic referral.
"Rural and coastal communities face unique challenges in accessing services. Our aim is to improve health and wellbeing through a sustainable farming health hub." Rachel Williams
Farmers are one of the hardest groups to reach. They often live in isolation, work long hours, and put their farms first. Many are self-reliant. This means health appointments are rarely a priority.
In December 2025, the project won a South West Integrated Personalised Care Award for working together differently. This highlighted the value of the co-produced, collaborative nature of the project.
In April 2026, the project was awarded Regional Champion in the Improving health outcomes category for the first NHS Excellence Awards.
Although the hub supports farmers across north Cornwall and Devon, it has seen some farmers from as far as Ireland and Scotland.
How it works
The hub runs every Wednesday at Holsworthy livestock market. A nurse, a community navigator, and a healthcare assistant staff it.
Services include basic health checks, condition-specific reviews, health coaching, and prevention advice. Soon, there will be training in accidental counselling.
The hub works with public health and government bodies.
"It is about meeting farmers where they are - in spaces they know and trust." Rachel Williams
The hub is already growing in popularity. A market nurse joined from Stratton's district nursing team in January.
Buffy Flanagan supports farmers to manage long-term health conditions. She offers health checks. She can also provide advice, such as stopping smoking, and diabetes and pain management. Buffy says:
"It is a busy market with a lot of our local farmers and other farmers passing through. I am here to look after their healthcare.
"For a farmer to get a GP appointment and then attend takes 2 or 3 hours out of their working day. Being here makes healthcare easier for them to access. This can then improve health outcomes."
Soon, there are plans for Buffy to run drop-in clinics. They will focus on chronic disease management such as asthma and COPD, vaccination clinics, holistic wellbeing, and long-term pain support.
The clinics will make it easier for people to look after their health without travel or making a GP appointment. They will be able to stop by for a quick check or friendly advice.
Why it matters
The hub is a collaboration between the Trust, livestock markets, Imagine If, and the University of Exeter.
It uses local experts and links to the neighbourhood health agenda. All of this work aligns to both the 10 Year Health Plan and the 3 shifts highlighted by Lord Darzi: Hospital to community, analogue to digital, and treatment to prevention.
The University of Exeter are evaluating the project. Gemma Brailey is the research lead. Gemma comments:
"The Farmers Health Hub is a testament to what can be achieved when research is co-produced with the people it is designed to serve.
"At the University of Exeter, we are leading the evaluation of this work to understand its impact and ensure that decisions about future investment and wider roll-out are grounded in robust evidence and lived experience."