The level and nature of need for health care among seafarers
Fishing boats at Port Ellen
Click here to access the web-questionnaire
For those who have limited web access a Word form version of the questionnaire can now be downloaded here. This form can be completed and emailed or posted back to us.
The ‘Supporting Seafarers and their Families’ report, published in 2007 by the Maritime Charities Funding Group (MCFG), investigated the needs of seafarers, retired and working, and their families. It looked into all aspects of support for seafarers including health, housing and poverty. One of the key health findings concerned the importance of timely access to medical diagnosis and treatment for seafarers of working age. The study findings highlighted the high incidence of ill-health and disability among seafarers as compared to other occupational groups. 17% of merchant seafarers and 23% of fishermen surveyed reported concerns about accessing healthcare, whilst 32% and 47% had needed medical care and 23% and 29% had needed rehabilitation to return to work at sea
As a result of its findings the report specifically recommended that further work be undertaken into access to healthcare. In response to this the Seamen’s Hospital Society (SHS), with funding from the MCFG (comprising, along with the SHS, the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, Nautilus International/NUMAST Welfare Funds, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Seafarers UK and Trinity House), has now commissioned new research to investigate the level and nature of need for health care among working age seafarers based in the UK and related healthcare provision. The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), an independent research organisation well known for investigating all aspects of workers health, is carrying out the research on behalf of the SHS.
This new study aims to learn more about the specific health needs of merchant seafarers and fishermen and any differences between groups within the industries. It will examine issues related to health care provision, and the main factors involved in seafarers accessing adequate and suitable health care. The study will consider what might be done to improve access to medical support where the need for that is identified. While investigating the availability of health care, the role of the Dreadnought Medical Service at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in providing priority NHS access will also be considered.
As part of the new study, the IOM is seeking out seafarers’ views on their health needs and access to healthcare. The questionnaire, will collect demographic data such as, age, occupation group etc. It will then ask about health complaints experienced by the respondent before focussing on access to healthcare for these and other health complaints.
The web-questionnaire can be accessed by clicking here or a Word form version of the document can be downloaded here. Alternatively if you would like to be posted the questionnaire click here and send us an email remembering to include your name and address.
It is important that as many people do the questionnaire as possible. Although impressions can be obtained from studies with lower response rates they will be less reliable and it is more difficult to develop policy to address any issues that become apparent from the study. We particularly hope to get a high response from fishermen as well as merchant seafarers.
The questionnaire will be confidential. All reported results will be summarised in such a way that no person is able to be identified from their answers. For those who choose to enter, two questionnaires will be drawn at random to receive a gift of an Ipod Nano.
Your help in this study is very much appreciated.