Farm Safety Partnership presents award

From left to right: Kerry Lindsay, School Nurse Newtownabbey, Pamela McBride, Lead Nurse Public Health Nursing, Susan Gault, Head of Public Health Nursing, Doreen Bolton, Health and Wellbeing Locality Lead (Mid-Ulster), Rebekah Collins, Student Nurse, Clare McKeown, Childrens Health Coordinator, Christina Faulkner, Farm Families, Alison Henry, Public Health Staff Nurse, Yvonne Carson, Health and Wellbeing Manager, and Harry Sinclair, HSENI Board Member and Farm Safety Partnership Chairman.

The Trust provides a wide range of services in health and social care across the local council areas of Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Cookstown, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle and Newtownabbey.

Since 2006 the Trust has been promoting the health, wellbeing and safety of farm families in the Northern Area and has been involved in a series of events in recent years including Focus on the Farm Family programmes and Child Safety on Farms Programmes.

Since 2012 the Trust has managed and coordinated the Farm Families Health Check Programme, a regional initiative, which aims to increase access to health screening and advice services at local marts and community events. The FSP decided because of their outstanding contribution in these areas, NHSCT were worthy winners of this award.

Harry Sinclair, Chair of the Farm Safety Partnership, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the NHSCT on their efforts and contribution in raising the profiles of health, wellbeing and safety for farming families. The Farm Safety Partnership, along with its 21 affiliate members, aim to raise the profile of farm safety in Northern Ireland and help improve the health and safety of the local farming community.

“Farming is such a vital part of the Northern Ireland economy, it is important that through the affiliates commitment to keep farm safety at the forefront of their activities, that we all play an essential role in helping to keep our farmers and their families safe.”