Funding to bring health boost for under-pressure fishermen

But now help is at hand for Bridlington’s fishermen with the launch of a pioneering health scheme that aims to bring them in from the cold.

The East Riding health trainer service has been awarded funding by The Seamen’s Hospital Society for a pilot project to improve fishermen’s health.

Paula Rooke, a health trainer with Humber NHS Foundation Trust, will spend two-and-a-half days a week at the harbour carrying out basic health checks on crews and inviting them to share and tackle any health problems they may have.

It aims to address the specific needs and common problems of fishermen, who can suffer stress, fatigue and physical ailments compounded by heavy drinking and smoking, although they rarely visit their doctor.

Service manager Natalie Belt said: “This is a great way of directly targeting men’s health and allowing us to work with this isolated, hardworking group of men who go out to sea 365 days a year in all weathers.

“Paula will be able to signpost them into the appropriate services available in their community, but more importantly give them an opportunity to focus on their own long-term health.”

She added: “This post is the first of its kind and we hope it won’t be the last; we aim to show the need and potential for similar projects to grow and to be seen in coastal towns across the country.”

The trust said the society is aware of the poor health of the fishing community, which it believes it is caused by shift patterns, long hours and a very physically demanding and labour-intensive job.

The stresses and strains of trying to make a living from the sea can breed uncertainty and frustration causing low mood, stress, anxiety and depression, it said.

As well as visiting the men on their boats, Ms Rooke will have an office on the harbour and will also be available for informal discussions in the fishermen’s favourite cafes.

She will work with the men to help them adopt healthier lifestyles and offer up to eight one-to-one sessions, referring them to specialist services if necessary.

Although the service thought it might have to work hard to engage the fishermen, Miss Belt said the initial reaction had been positive.

She said: “When we first got the money we thought it would be really hard to engage them but it’s been the opposite. The guys have been so welcoming and given her a full tour of the harbour so she can learn more about what they are doing.

“She sat on some rigging and they were pulling each other in to have their blood pressure checked. They would never make an appointment to see a GP because they are so busy.”

She added: “Men’s health is a big issue because it can be very hard to engage them to think about their own health.

“There are a lot of issues that can affect fishermen. There can be too much drinking because they all go to the pub after work. They can be up very early to go to sea and not bring back the catch they need, so there is the stress of making enough money as well.”

The scheme is the first of its kind in the country and could be rolled out elsewhere if successful. It has funding from the society until March next year.

The trust said: “Bringing health to the working man is important. If you work in a factory or for a company where occupational health is available or health support is provided then you can access the support you need to stay fit for work, but the fishermen don’t have this opportunity; this is where East Riding health trainers can start to make a difference.”

Ms Rooke has been a health trainer in the resort for three years and has helped 200 people make positive lifestyle changes. The fishermen could be her biggest catch yet.