Rural Health

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is the largest geographical Trust in Northern Ireland spanning over 1,733 miles. The Trust serves a population of just under 480,000 and according to 2021 census figures nearly 204,000 people live in rural areas or 42.5% of the population.

Living rurally has many benefits including more green spaces, less noise and wonderful views. We know that while many aspects of our wellbeing are shared between urban and rural settings there are also a range of challenges in rural areas including access to services, pockets of poverty, geographical isolation, mental health issues and poor transport links.

Over the years there has been a gradual change to the infrastructure of rural areas with a decline in the number of social activities and services. For instance, mobile shops selling groceries, bread, meat, fruit and vegetables, common place in rural areas years ago, are mostly a thing of the past. There has also been a decrease in the number of social events, for example, dances and concerts and this is more so, post Covid-19. Within the farming community, as machinery and equipment has become more mechanised, many farmers work on their own.

Coupled with these and the more recent closure of  rural banks, post offices and schools and some GP surgeries has meant rural networks have diminished over time. If the Covid-19 pandemic showed us anything it is the importance of keeping socially connected to our community and the positive impact this has on our overall health and wellbeing.

The Northern Trust recognises the challenges many rural dwellers face and is committed to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for our rural population. The Trust has a proven track record of developing rural initiatives and works in partnership with a range of organisations with a rural remit.

Rural initiatives

The Farm Families Health Check Programme originated from a pilot programme instigated in the Northern Trust in 2010 and is now a regional programme.  It is aimed at improving the health and social wellbeing of farmers, farm families and rural dwellers in Northern Ireland by increasing access to health screening services. It is funded by DAERA and Public Health Agency and continues to be coordinated by Northern Trust staff.

A rural men’s social prescribing project, developed by the Northern Trust in 2017 in partnership with a local GP Practice continues to thrive.  A number of older men were identified as those who would benefit from more social connections.  The men continue to meet at a monthly breakfast club to learn from a speaker, chat and enjoy a hearty breakfast. They enjoy mutual interests in farming, rural heritage and history through various activities including trips. This group has grown and expanded over the years and has joined forces with partner organisation, Bann Maine West Community Cluster. This successful model has used by other rural men’s groups.

The Farmers’ Choir Northern Ireland was set up in 2018 by the Northern Trust in partnership with Ulster Farmers Union with the objective of bringing farmers and rural dwellers together to enjoy singing and offer a new way for people to meet and socialise together. Since then the choir has gone from strength to strength and is now a registered charity. Their greatest achievement to date has been singing at King Charles Coronation in 2023.

The Northern Trust’s Day Opportunities Programme in partnership with Rural Support and DAERA have developed a number of Social Farm sites across the Trust.  Social Farming is a collaborative use of agriculture to promote therapy, rehabilitation, social inclusion and education in rural areas.

Rural Health Forum

During 2023 to further concentrate our efforts in rural areas, a Rural Health Forum for staff was established to take forward rural health and wellbeing work within the Northern Trust. This included conducting staff and community surveys which gave us valuable information which we have begun to build on including a Succession Evening for rural women at Glarryford and the development of a Supper Club for rural women in Cullybackey.

Other projects include working in partnership with CAFRE and the Western Health and Social Care Trust to help identify the health and wellbeing needs of the student population on their sites at Greenmount, Loughry and Enniskillen campuses.

In addition, to raise awareness of key rural issues, the Trust held a Rural Conference in April 2024 and launched a Rural Video (listed above) and Rural Framework.

Furthermore, district nursing, social care, public health nursing, public health dietitians, palliative care and the Diabetes Prevention Programme as well as the four Loneliness Networks and others within the Northern Trust all work across rural areas to help address rural needs.

With a continued focus within rural areas, together with our partners, we aim to make a real difference to the rural communities we serve.

For further information please contact yvonne.carson@northerntrust.hscni.net