Tuesday, January 9, 15:45 – 17:15, Mexico Room

Moderated by Carol Elliott

SeaFit is an award-winning initiative providing easier access to services to improve the health and wellbeing of fishermen and their families. We use collaborative partnerships bringing alternative models of healthcare to the quayside where fishermen work. Studies confirm that commercial fishermen face specific occupational health issues. UK fatality rates are 100 times higher than that of the general workforce and work-related injuries are common. The 2 most widespread issues being heart, high blood pressure, circulation problems (54%), and muscular or skeletal conditions (41%). Many fail to seek help and are unlikely to attend screening appointments, working through pain or injury, exacerbating their condition, and increasing poor, long-term health outcomes. Working conditions, and battle against a traditional ‘man-up’ culture means pre-booking appointments, when not being able to plan for time off is difficult, current health systems do not offer flexibility. The UK Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2021: Health in Coastal Communities acknowledged that coastal communities have been long overlooked. Dentists say the oral health of fishermen generally consists of gross neglect, worse than those who are homeless. Suffering continual pain and infection, because they were too scared, or embarrassed by the state of their teeth. Others cannot find an NHS dentist or afford private care. One fisherman used nail clippers to try to smooth a chipped tooth which resulted in him cracking the tooth and living in constant pain. To increase engagement, health services needed to be taken to the quayside. Our Healthy Lifestyle and Mental Health Advisors spent time getting to know the fishermen. The Fishermen’s Mission port staff are invaluable in getting fishermen to attend health events and report an increase in demand, picking up additional welfare needs afterwards. Staff are continually visible at the quayside, stopping for informal chats to help engagement. Most fishermen know that support is available, but will not always ask, unless they see someone they trust on the quayside. We hear that fishermen would eventually ‘pop-in’ for a health check with our Healthy Lifestyle Advisors, but never make an appointment with their GP. SeaFit enables relationships to be built with many NHS Trusts and Public Health teams, including working with Dr Bola Owolabi, NHSE Director of Health Inequalities and Improvement. As SeaFit gains recognition NHS and Public Health providers now include quayside clinics in their core outreach teams, increasing our reach and reducing our costs. Some local authorities use the SeaFit model in other hard-to-reach communities such as the farming industry. Outcomes, we have literally saved people’s lives. One event 11% had high blood pressure, 17% had a high risk of diabetes, and 3 of 8 people were referred due to undiagnosed liver problems. It is not only physical health checks, fishermen have said the mental health support they’d received stopped them from taking their own lives. Mental health issues are not spoken about, for fear of fishermen being seen as weak by others. Financial worries, cost-of-living, increased regulations, environmental pressures and market demand, all lead to an increase in anxiety, stress, and greater strain on relationships. Fatal accidents at sea can have profound long-term effects on entire fishing communities. Even with 2 specialist counsellors working with SeaFit we needed to reach other areas and set-up the SHOUT service providing UK-wide, 24/7 confidential support. The project powered by Mental Health Innovations, uses pioneering technology to improve mental health, with the support of the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. If a fisherman is feeling anxious, stressed or depressed they can text the word ‘FISH’ to 85258 for free, confidential support any time, day or night. The Seafarers Hospital Society has a well-established Physiotherapy Network offering free fast-track physiotherapy to working seafarers and fishermen. Providing holistic and preventative treatment to help avoid injury caused by the physical demands and repetitive nature of work. Repetitive strain injuries, and musculoskeletal issues, often caused by heavy lifting, are common long-term health issues. SW: Defibrillators – The rising median age of fishermen has shown a concurrent rise in heart attacks and other similar health-related incidents caused by high blood pressure. Having identified the growing prevalence SHS has installed defibrillators in ports, seafarer centres, boats and run webinars aimed at preventing heart-related fatalities. Many of these deaths remain preventable, every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10%. Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere said: “These measures will help save lives and ensure our seafarers know their welfare is of paramount importance.”