Consultant respiratory practitioner Rachel Williams has helped to set up an innovative Farming Health Hub, which operates in north Cornwall and recently won an award..

Rachel, a physiotherapist by background who practises at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, worked alongside colleagues in the primary and community sectors, market chaplaincy, local social enterprise Imagine If and the University of Exeter University to create the hub.

It aims to provide advice, support and guidance to farming communities at local venues. This includes livestock markets and pop-up venues, meaning that farmers and their families have access to advice.

The Farming Health Hub, which opens every Wednesday at Holsworthy livestock market, is run by a community navigator, a nurse and a health care assistant from a local GP practice. Reviews can also be conducted outside of the livestock market.

‘The aim is to enhance the health and wellbeing of our rural communities: promoting place-based care through a sustainable farming health hub model’ [Rachel Williams]

Anyone visiting the market can access the hub and users do not have to be registered with the local GP practice. They can receive basic health checks as well as condition-specific reviews with specialist services. ‘Accidental’ counselling training, prevention and health coaching is available. The hub is collaborating with public health colleagues and governmental bodies such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The project is being evaluated by researchers based at the University of Exeter and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement.

Rachel: award is a ‘great achievement’

After the team received the received the ‘Working Together Differently Award’ at the South West Personalised Care Awards in December 2025, Rachel said: ‘This award is a great achievement. It reflects the dedication, collaboration, and innovation within the team. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved so far.’

Pointing out that rural and coastal communities face unique challenges in accessing services, Rachel noted: ‘The aim is to enhance the health and wellbeing of our rural communities: promoting place-based care through a sustainable farming health hub model.’

This ‘place-based care’ is co-produced with the farming community and is a ‘model that doesn’t just treat illness,’ Rachel added. ‘It understands people, their context, and their lives’.

Rachel attended the awards ceremony with Vicky Parker, Ruby Country Medical Group PCN operations manager, Sue Banks, market chaplain and retired vet, and Gemma Bailey and Kirsty Tooke, both from the University of Exeter.

During the 2025 Pulmonary Rehabilitation Awareness Week, Rachel led an online discussion on strategies to improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation. It was hosted by a Royal College of Physicians Community of Practice.

This year’s events take place from 15-19 June, it has just been announced. The events run in the UK and Ireland.

Generic image of UK livestock market from Shutterstock