Taking health services to the quayside.

The SeaFit Programme is a joint initiative run by the Fishermen’s Mission (TFM) and Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS). We work in partnership to provide health services at the quayside to improve the health and wellbeing of fishermen and their families.

Fishing remains one of the UK’s most dangerous professions taking a toll on the physical and mental health of those in the industry. SeaFit was set up having identified that fishermen find it difficult to make and keep pre-booked health appointments. They can’t plan for time off because the weather, tides, and fish locations dictate when they need to be out at sea. If they are not at sea, they are not earning a living.

There is also a traditional expectation to be strong and resilient which means many won’t seek out medical help. I’ve had many fishermen tell me that it was their wife or partner who kept on that them to get help.

The mobile health events, use an assets-based model of flexible healthcare, taking services to the quayside, delivered and adapted to the local environment. We’ve provided free dental checks and immediate treatment through Dentaid Charity and Smile Together. There have also been free liver checks with the Eastern Liver Network and again several referrals made to GPs for non-diagnosed liver conditions. Every event is different, we invite existing local services to provide health information, for example: Macmillan Cancer Support, Seafood Cornwall Training, Barclays Mobile Banking, Oddballs Testicular Cancer, Energy Advice, Prostate Cancer UK, etc.