The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has said that demand for a pilot health check programme for the farming community justifies a wider national rollout.

The IFA, CROÍ and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) today (Wednesday, March 5) presented the findings of the pilot health check initiative, which took place last year.

Minister for State at DAFM, Michael Healy-Rae officially launched the report at the Cillín Hill mart in Kilkenny, which was one of the locations that offered free health checks to farmers.

The Health Check initiative was launched to address significant health and wellbeing challenges faced by the farming community.

Funded under the department's farm safety, health, and wellbeing projects scheme, the initiative operated from September until November 2024.

It provided on-site health checks at livestock marts and agri-events across the country, aiming to bridge healthcare access gaps and to promote proactive health management.

The services offered included preventative health checks, a mental health questionnaire, and tailored educational resources for farmers, farm workers and their families.

In total, over 1,200 health checks were delivered to farmers or farm workers in 16 locations, which exceeded the target by 22%. The report noted that 85% of participants were aged 45 or older.

Nearly half of participants were found to have elevated blood pressure or cholesterol levels.

4.5% or 23 participants had dangerously high blood pressure levels requiring immediate emergency care with a number being red flagged to hospital.

Elevated blood glucose levels were noted in 20% of screenings, demonstrating the need for proactive diabetes management.

Those involved in running the initiative said that farmers appreciated the convenience and accessibility of on-site health checks and related services.

The report stated that farmers found the mental health assessments beneficial, with many stating that it was the first time they had openly discussed their mental wellbeing.

58% of farmers surveyed said they never, rarely or only some of the time, feel relaxed. 46% were never, rarely or only some of the time optimistic about the future.

11% of the participants were advised to seek immediate follow-up with their GP or visit A&E.

Over 12,000 health information packs were distributed offering information on managing high-risk health conditions and preventive care.

The accompanying social media campaign reached over 7.2 million individuals, while the IFA website saw a 20% increase in traffic during the project period.

Among the recommendations in the report are the establishment of a national health check programme and a centralised digital platform offering continuous health education.

The report also calls for an expansion of holistic services and a stakeholder forum to raise awareness of farming-related health issues and increased risk factors.

Teresa Roche, IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee chair, thanked the department and CROÍ for their support in raising awareness among farmers of minding their health.

"We can build on this momentum and develop ongoing preventative programmes,” she said.

Mark O'Donnell, chief executive of CROÍ added that the response to this pilot "shows the real need for accessible health checks in rural communities".

"Cardiovascular health is key to overall well-being, yet many risk factors go unnoticed. With 80% of premature cardiovascular disease being preventable, early detection and early treatment is essential.

“CROÍ is committed to working with our partners to expand this initiative so more farmers can access the checks and support they need to protect their heart health and overall well-being," he said.