Texas Journal of Rural Health, Volume 17, Number 2, 1999 Page: 63
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HEALTHY VILLAGES: A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Also, there aren't adequate resources to meet
the perceived health and social needs of rural
areas. There is difficulty in attracting and
retaining doctors to work in rural, remote, and
isolated practices (World Organization of
Family Doctors, 1995). Rural areas are
considered idyllic with less social and health
needs than in urban areas. Much has been
written about the potential substantial
earnings from dispensing health care by rural
practitioners, but not much has been written
about the 50 miles of travel necessary for a
patient visit or the need for emergency or
maternity services.
In view of the increased demands for
health and social services in our rural practice
of 6500 patients in Brockenhurst and Sway in
Hampshire, UK, we decided to adopt a
"Healthy Village" concept where a paid
community or "healthy village coordinator"
could identify the community resources and
then use these resources for patients who had
been referred to the coordinator (Browne,
1994; Browne, 1995). The general practice
team has four doctors, two practice nurses, a
community nurse, and a nurse adviser for
older people. The practice team felt that there
was a need for more social support than
medication with prescriptions and pills. A
holistic approach to health and social care
was considered, which improved the quality
of living and well-being for many patients.
METHODS
The Brockenhurst Healthy Village project
is based on the concepts of "well being,"
"community," "building local networks,"
"inter-agency collaboration," and "involving
local people." These ideas are enshrined in
the World Health Organizations Healthy Cities
movement and Health for All by the Year 2000
strategy and the NHS Management Executivereport on "Local voices: The views of local
people in purchasing for health."
The health benefits of prescribing exercise
and art therapy was part of the holistic
approach to health. Increased physical
activity for all ages and disabilities can help
reduce cardiovascular illness and osteoporo-
sis and improve the control of asthma and
diabetes; it can also help to reduce stress,
depression, weight loss, and improve blood
pressure control (Royal College of Physicians,
1991). The coordinator was employed for 18
hours a week and received referrals from the
local general practitioners, practice nurses,
social worker, and from self-referrals or from
individuals in the community. Referred
patients were seen within 48 hours and their
needs were assessed. Opportunities were
offered to use the community resources.
These included statutory or voluntary
organizations, activities in the village and
church hall, and adult education courses at
the local education college.
Brockenhurst Village Hall was built in 1982
and over 40 organizations use the facility
regularly. Dr. Derek Brown, this article's
author, ran the London Marathon in 1982 and
raised over 34,000 to purchase the freehold
site of the village hall, which was owned by
the County Council. He wore the logo
"Exercise Prevents Body Rust" on his running
slip and involved the whole community in the
fund raising activity, which was completed in
six months. The County Council, who
received the money, was strongly encouraged
to spend the whole amount on improving the
local primary school. A research project on
prescribing exercise from a general practice
level had a positive outcome (Campbell,
Browne & Waters, 1985).
The village hall has classes for mothers
and toddlers, badminton groups, indoor
bowls, 50+ activities, yoga, keep fit classes, a
frail elderly group "called knit and knatter,"
and a weekly dancing group. The local63
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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Texas Journal of Rural Health, Volume 17, Number 2, 1999, periodical, 1999; Lubbock, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1114719/m1/71/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.