A life-saving conversation at the farmers market

Sometimes, a simple conversation and a five-minute health check can save a life.

Ashlea is a Community Paramedic with Australia’s first community paramedic-led healthcare charity - HMS Community. HMS Community provides preventative health checks across the Macedon Ranges, meeting people where they are - at markets, op shops, workplaces, and community events. One of their favourite locations is the Riddells Creek Farmers’ Market, where free blood pressure checks are offered to locals. These checks are quick, non-invasive, and most people are happy to spare five minutes for the assessment.

Paramedic (Pmd) Ashlea enjoys engaging with stallholders, supporting their small businesses and purchasing local produce while working at the market. Over time she became acquainted with a local goat farmer and cheesemaker, whom she affectionately calls "Cheese Man." After several friendly conversations, she finally convinced him to have a blood pressure check.

To his surprise, his reading came back a little high, so he was advised to follow up with his health practitioner. The following month, after purchasing more of his delicious cheese, Pmd Ashlea checked in with him again and encouraged him to stop by for another health check. His blood pressure remained high, and he admitted he had not yet followed up. This pattern continued over the next few markets - her buying cheese, him getting another check, and saying, "Yeah, I’ll get around to it." With additional encouragement from a HMS Nurse Practitioner who was assisting with the health checks the following month, he finally decided to visit HMS Community’s newly established Community Paramedic-led GP Clinic in Gisborne.

Cheese Man became the clinic’s very first patient. After several appointments and tests later, the results confirmed he had asymptomatic stomach cancer. Being a hardworking small business owner, a father, a son, and a husband - his world changed in an instant.

Since then, he has undergone two rounds of chemotherapy and surgery and is recovering well.

Pmd Ashlea still sees Cheese Man at the Alphington Farmers’ Market, and their catchups remain heartwarming. In a funny twist of fate, her sister now works for him at markets, selling his cheese!

He often tells others that HMS Community saved his life. A simple, innovative health check at a local market led to an incredible, life-changing discovery for him. The first time he said it, Pmd Ashlea was taken aback. It brought her to tears. Reflecting on it now, she realises the truth in his words. The impact of that single blood pressure check still gives her goosebumps.

Since then, HMS Community’s preventative health checks have expanded. The Charity now collaborates with LGBTIA+ health groups, integrating both physical health checks and mental health check-in (or, as they like to call them, wellbeing check-ins). The team believes addressing chronic disease in the community is a no-brainer and continues to witness the powerful effects of these small but proactive health measures.  

Of course, there are other great perks to this work! Some days, preventative health checks take place in op shops – a particular favourite of Pmd Ashlea’s. Other times, after a busy afternoon of preventative health checks, the team joins the community for a shared meal at the neighborhood luncheon. These moments are an adjunct to why this work matters - because sometimes, a simple conversation and a five-minute health check can save a life.

To find out more visit - www.hmscommunity.org.au