Farming voices matter: How Central Dales GP Practice is acting on local feedback

This year, Healthwatch North Yorkshire published Ploughing Through Barriers, a report on the challenges faced by North Yorkshire’s farming communities. Many said it’s difficult to make appointments, travel to services or open up about their mental health.

The report gathered feedback from over 100 people locally, including farmers, their families and rural healthcare professionals.

We’ve seen the difference local voices can make. Central Dales GP Practice, which covers Aysgarth and Hawes, responded thoroughly to what people told us. Here’s how they are supporting their farming patients.

What’s changed – and why it matters

The practice has shown it understands the farming way of life and the pressures that come with it. They’ve looked at how they provide care and how they can better support farmers and their families.

Here’s how they’ve responded:

Making appointments work for farming life

• Farmers can call in, walk in or be fitted in at short notice when something urgent comes up.
• They offer a 24/7 online form called an e-consultation, which lets people ask for advice or support at any time. The practice replies within two working days.
• Appointments are also available in the evenings and at weekends at their Aysgarth surgery, making it easier for people who work long or unpredictable hours.

Reducing time off and financial stress

• Staff aim to do as much as possible in one visit, saving patients from returning multiple times.
• When referring someone to hospital or specialist care, the practice highlights that the patient is a farmer so this can be taken into account.

Tackling rural barriers to healthcare

Support closer to home

• Patients can choose between Hawes and Aysgarth surgeries.
• In-practice blood tests save hours of travel to hospital.
• Most farmers receive free medication deliveries. Over 1,000 prescriptions have been delivered since 2016.
• Prescriptions can be ordered in several ways: online, by email, by phone or by dropping off a request form – whatever works best for the individual.

Mental and long-term health support

• The practice has a mental health specialist based on-site, who supports people experiencing anxiety, depression, grief or other emotional difficulties.
• They also have an advanced clinical practitioner who visits people at home, particularly those living with long-term health conditions or frailty. They help patients access support, equipment and services to stay well and independent.

Understanding the farming mindset

The team includes staff from farming and gamekeeping backgrounds, giving them a real understanding of the challenges people can face.

They’re also addressing specific concerns farmers told us about:

• Gun licence worries when seeking mental health help
• Fear of judgement or gossip in small communities
• Trusting vets over GPs

Central Dales is taking these concerns seriously. They offer private, flexible ways to get support, including online forms where people can ask to be contacted by phone, text or email.

They also work closely with local vets, who encourage farmers to contact the GP practice when needed. If a vet has a concern, they can contact the practice directly and staff can reach out to the patient.

Staying connected with the community

Central Dales knows that healthcare isn’t just about appointments – it’s also about being part of the local community and making sure people feel supported and informed.

Here’s what they’re doing:

• Their website and Facebook page are updated regularly with useful information.
• They keep the messaging feature on Facebook open so patients can ask questions informally.
• They have a patient participation group, made up of local people who meet regularly to share ideas and feedback. Every parish council covered by the practice has someone involved.
• Minutes from patient group meetings are shared online and with the parish councils.
• Reception staff are trained to help guide patients to the right support, including physiotherapists, mental health workers and out-of-hours services.

Bringing healthcare and support to where farmers are

The practice visited Hawes Auction Mart, a familiar and convenient setting for many farmers. They didn’t just talk – they took action:

• Blood pressure checks were offered on-site.
• Medical questions were answered and appointments were booked there and then.
• The Farming Community Network, Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and a physiotherapist were also there.
• Farmers received information about how to get help, including around mental health and concerns about gun licences.

Farmers left with answers, booked appointments and clear contact information.

The practice has said it would like to repeat this kind of outreach as part of its work with the local farming and gamekeeping communities.

Ideas for the future

Central Dales has also suggested further ideas that could make healthcare easier to access for farmers and gamekeepers, including:

• Dedicated health drop-ins at the surgery, offering checks such as blood pressure, pulse, blood tests and general health reviews.
• Regular outreach at Hawes Auction Mart.
• Leaflets and campaigns helping farmers understand when to seek help, how to access services and why looking after their own health matters.
• Information at local vets so farmers can pick up advice and be guided towards the right health services.

These were ideas put forward by the practice for further development and would depend on factors including funding.

The practice also said it would support wider campaigns to reduce the stigma of asking for help and remind farmers that looking after their own health helps them care for their animals too.

Why this matters

These examples show what can happen when services listen to the experiences of the communities they serve.

Central Dales GP Practice has responded to what farmers told us and adapted the way it supports its local farming community. Healthwatch helps make sure those experiences reach the people who can act on them.

This is what Healthwatch is here for: making sure your voice helps shape better care.

If you live in a rural area or farming community and want to share your experience of health or care services, we’re here to listen. Your feedback helps make services better, not just for you, but for everyone.

For the latest developments following our farming research, read our updated article, Fielding better healthcare for North Yorkshire’s farmers.