As part of our focus on men’s health Kathy Oxtoby takes a look at efforts being made in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
‘Studies show that men are more likely to present late with serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancers like prostate cancer and lung cancer, reducing chances for early treatment,’ says Dr Dave Briggs, executive director of outcomes (medical) at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board. ‘There is also a significantly higher rate of mental health issues and suicide among men, yet they are less likely to seek psychological support.’
The ICB has been looking at its population health needs in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and targeting health interventions as part of its place-based partnership work.
In Newark and Sherwood, the District Council launched the Barber’s project, a pilot focused on raising awareness of prostate cancer.
‘Population health management data consistently shows that men, particularly in deprived communities, are less likely to access traditional healthcare settings,’ says Dr Briggs. So, over the last 18 months, the Health Improvement Team at the Council has been working with 15 barbers across the district with the aim of promoting prostate cancer screening initially. They provided information to support barbers with the conversations they are having with their customers.
‘The project has helped to get men talking to someone they trust, in a relaxed environment with the hope that they would take better care of their health and go and get checked if they had concerns,’ says Dr Briggs.
The team visits every six months, seeking feedback on how conversations are going. The project has since expanded with resources now including information on mental health, suicide and debt.
One local barber recently said: ‘The resources provided have been a big talking point amongst our male customers within the barbershop. Seeing the leaflets and cards has been the topic of many conversations, particularly prostate cancer and suicide. It’s enabled men to strike up a conversation that they normally wouldn’t be comfortable talking about, and in turn, has led to some deep and heartfelt conversations.’
In Nottingham, the data showed there were challenges with Black men from more deprived areas with hypertension. Of the 20,840 Black men over 40 in Nottingham City, 2,190 have a hypertension diagnosis, but only 55% have controlled blood pressure. The remaining 980 are at significant risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications.
Additionally, a substantial proportion of this population have risk factors for hypertension, (for example, obesity, smoking, high alcohol use, depression, anxiety) but have not had a blood pressure reading in the last five years, highlighting the risk of undetected hypertension.
Nottingham Place Based Partnership began a project in October 2024 to improve awareness and management of hypertension among men of African and African Caribbean heritage in the City, with a focus on those aged 40+ who are at risk of CVD.
‘This was a collaborative effort between Nottingham Trent University and the Majority Black Led Churches, funded by the NHS England Community Connectors Fund. It sought to raise awareness of hypertension, improve engagement with health services, and ensure culturally responsive interventions for Black communities,’ says Dr Briggs.
Volunteers were recruited from the community, who conducted marketing and publicity using targeted communications, social media, leaflet drops, and radio/print media. Two interactive community workshops were held to explore knowledge of hypertension, access to services, and barriers to engagement. And community events, including a Heart Health Event at a local church, offered mini health checks, including blood pressure screenings, education on heart disease risk, and lifestyle guidance.
Around 50 community members attended the events, and 33 blood pressure checks were carried out. One of these men was found to have very high blood pressure and was quickly booked in with his GP. He is now on a management plan and has avoided any emergency care.
‘By working in partnership with a faith organisation, the project has strengthened the connection between Nottingham’s Black communities and local health services, increased awareness of hypertension risks, and provided actionable insights to inform culturally sensitive interventions,’ says Dr Briggs.
In the Bassetlaw area, a large rural area in the north of the county, a collaborative project has been helping to address the unique mental and physical health needs of the farming community. The Focus on Farmers project is led by Bassetlaw Action Centre and supported by Bassetlaw Place-Based Partnership, Kingfisher Family Practice and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance.
‘The project works closely with farmers, their families, and rural residents to provide accessible and trusted support, says Dr Briggs. Focused areas include mental health, community support, physical health, cancer screening, and firearm safety.
