Rural health report calls for more flexible NHS support for farmers

Farmers and agricultural workers face distinctive physical and mental health risks while often struggling to access routine care, England’s Chief Medical Officer has warned.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty’s 2026 annual report examines health in rural areas and small towns. It identifies agriculture as a particularly hazardous industry because of powerful machinery, livestock, long working hours and exposure to potentially harmful substances. Agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded 8.09 fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 workers during 2025/26, the highest rate among Britain’s major industry groups.

The report also highlights less visible pressures, including isolation, financial uncertainty and the difficulty of separating work, home and family life on smaller farms. These factors can contribute to poor mental health, while geographical isolation and limited public transport may make seeking support more difficult.

Farmers can also struggle to attend conventional appointments during demanding periods such as lambing and calving. The report recommends more flexible scheduling, mental health outreach and taking preventative healthcare into familiar settings such as livestock markets rather than expecting rural communities to fit services designed around urban life.

One scheme highlighted is the Farmers’ MOT Day at Bakewell Market in Derbyshire, where NHS staff provide checks including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar testing while farmers attend to their normal business. The initiative is presented as an example of how earlier support can reach people who might otherwise postpone healthcare.

No national rollout of market-based health checks has been announced. However, the Chief Medical Officer has called on local commissioners to work with agricultural communities and design services around their working patterns, transport difficulties and particular health risks.

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