Supporting the fishing community

A project to support the fishing community in North Shields is going from strength to strength.

Funded by Macmillan and working with partners, the C-Aware Project raises awareness of the symptoms of cancer and screening opportunities among fishermen, a group often underrepresented in healthcare and support services.

Dr Robin Hudson, medical director at the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, attended a recent Fishermen’s Mission SeaFit event at North Shields Fish Quay, alongside Dr Katie Elliott, local GP and Clinical Director for Northern Cancer Alliance, and Carol Elliott, SeaFit manager (pictured left).

The event brought together volunteers and professionals providing blood pressure checks, lung health checks, dental treatment, cancer advice, and mental health support.

Dr Elliott said: “Access to healthcare is challenging for this population who are out at sea and find it difficult to access services in normal working hours.

“This is a great example of providing services into a community setting however could not have been done without excellent partnership working.”