20 July 2013
OISÍN CLG GLENARIFFE invited the FARM FAMILIES HEALTH CHECK VAN to our marquee weekend event on Saturday 13th July 2013. The Farm Families Health Checks Programme is a one stop mobile facility offering free health assessments and advice tailored to the individual. The main audience targeted is farmers and their families but the service is offered to the general public also.
It was a pleasure on Saturday morning to see and speak to the farmers from Glenariffe in our club grounds, especially the elderly farmers from around the glen who were feeling relaxed and looking forward to their health checks. It was nice to listen to those who played hurling many years ago. They were delighted to be in the grounds again, reminiscing and sharing their memories of matches etc. from years gone by.
The feed back following their health checks was very positive with many saying that they felt more comfortable speaking to medical professionals that they did not know rather than speak to their own GPs and nurses in their local Health Centres. They also liked that fact that they did not have to share waiting rooms or await appointments with length waiting times. As we all know farmers can be shy and set in their ways so it was a pleasure for Oisín clg to help them in this way especially following the bleak winter that they suffered here in Glenariffe with the heavy snowfalls which impacted on many. The farmers praised the nurses for their friendliness, patience and confidentiality during their appointments.
I do feel that advertising The Farm Families Health Check Van in the local newspapers, club websites and at Masses in the parish and especially the door to door leaflet drops around the glen which was carried out a few days prior to the event, greatly helped to make this exercise a success. I personally know the farmers in the glen and at the leaflet drops they asked for details and I reassured them that the checks were carried our by professionals with confidentiality. Those who promised would attend did attend and I thanked them for their support to this project arranged by Oisín clg Glenariffe.
I was also very pleased to see the farmer's family members who attended also and the visitors to Glenariffe who are here on holiday.
I understand that the Farm Families Health Check Van caters for approximately 20 clients on each visit. On Saturday 33 clients attended in Glenariffe with 70% with a farming background. Many thanks for the thoughtfulness and care of the DARD/Public Health Agency staff who worked overtime to try to meed the demand on the day.
