Cumbria graduate develops 'health van' for rural areas

Cumbria Health business officer Shannon Holmes completed a feasibility report on the scheme during her studies at the University of Cumbria, exploring how a mobile healthcare service could deliver screenings, education, and vaccinations directly to residents in remote parts of the county.

Ms Holmes said: "Cumbria’s quite a rural, sparse county and a lot of people don’t have equal access to healthcare.

"They can’t get a doctor’s appointment, they can’t even get to the doctor’s because there’s no public transport.

"We wanted to look at the idea of having a mobile health vehicle to go out and do health checks, health education and vaccinations – quick, easy healthcare things that you’d normally have to wait at the GP practice for.

"There’s elderly people who can’t drive, so if we had a health van that would travel around to different places, then everyone would have fair, equal access to healthcare."

The proposed health van would serve residents in rural areas who face significant barriers to accessing GP surgeries and basic healthcare services.

Ms Holmes, who recently completed her BA (Hons) in Applied Management as part of a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship, was promoted to business officer at Cumbria Health after completing her university assignments.

Shannon Holmes (front, middle) with her course-mates during their time with UoC (Image: University of Cumbria)

She said: "I’m just so passionate about helping people.

"The fact that I can do something I’m really good at – business – and put it into practice in a healthcare environment trying to help people, I think it’s a really nice job and it’s really rewarding."

Ms Holmes studied at the University of Cumbria’s Ambleside campus.

She is the first person in her immediate family to attend university.

Juggling full-time work, study, and life proved demanding, especially as she completed her dissertation while eight months pregnant.

Her son, Finley, was born just two weeks before her graduation in July.

Ms Holmes said: "It was surreal graduating.

"I remember starting with my group three years ago and thought that we’d never make it.

"The fact that my name got called out and I got to walk out in front of everybody was the official ‘I’ve done it’ moment."

She praised the support she received during her studies and encouraged others to consider university.

Ms Holmes said: "It’s been absolutely amazing.

"I couldn’t ask for better tutors, help, the facilities available, the student support services, it’s just amazing.

"People who think they can’t do it, they definitely can with all the support and help that you can get.

"I don’t think people realise what’s available."

Now on maternity leave, she hopes to return to work next year with ambitions to become a business manager.

She is also considering studying for a master’s degree in the future.

Cumbria Health senior business manager Phil Salmon praised her contributions to the organisation and the health van project.

Mr Salmon said: "It has been brilliant having Shannon on board at Cumbria Health and seeing her confidence and skills develop over the time of her degree apprenticeship.

"Shannon is really a key member of the team here and her passion to support our work tackling health inequalities all over Cumbria has been amazing."

The health van project is currently awaiting funding before it can be launched.