Seafarers Hospital Society reaffirms its commitment to seafarers' wellbeing on 205th anniversary
The Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS) celebrates its 205th anniversary with the launch of its 2025-2026 impact report, ‘A year of care, growth and leadership‘. The report highlighted a year of crucial interventions and strategic growth in response to the escalating health and financial difficulties facing UK seafarers, fishermen, and their families. Operating against a backdrop of rising living costs, extended NHS waiting lists, and persistent workforce demands, SHS strengthened its role as both a provider of direct care and a leader in maritime welfare, ensuring those who work at sea are not left to face hardship alone.
To address immediate needs, SHS delivered faster access to essential services and innovative health solutions across maritime communities. Sandra Welch (pictured), CEO, SHS, explains, “The SeaFit programme was significantly expanded, delivering 37 events across 18 ports, resulting in nearly 2,500 health engagements by bringing dental, mental health, and lifestyle services directly to fishing communities. Our vision is ambitious: not just to deliver services, but to build complete, accessible health hubs right on the quayside.” Furthermore, “SHS advanced safety at sea through the UKSF–DEFRA Defibrillator Project, installing 200 defibrillators and distributing 250 first aid kits on fishing vessels nationwide, complete with vital emergency training.”
The Society also addressed needs that had been overlooked for a very long time. SHS launched the maritime sector’s first Neurodiversity Grant Scheme, a £40,000 investment offering early diagnostic support for conditions like ADHD and autism, and provided over 1,000 discreet menstrual health packs to women working at sea. Critical mental health support was provided through Togetherall and the SHS Mental Health Network, so that seafarers had 24/7 access to support whenever life felt overwhelming. The service provides confidential digital resources and counselling sessions to any seafarer operating within UK waters.
The challenges faced by UK seafarers mirror complex global issues impacting the maritime workforce, including stress from extended rotations, fragmented healthcare access, and pressure from a rapidly changing industry landscape. As Captain Kuba Szymanski, Chair, SHS, states, “The pressures on those working at sea are immense, from economic worries to the daily psychological demands of maritime life. Our response has been to strengthen our front-line services while also driving systemic change.”
Beyond direct service, SHS elevated the discussion around seafarer welfare internationally, publishing ‘The Human Heart of Sustainable Shipping’ report and developing a set of Best Practice Health and Wellbeing KPIs, positioning seafarer wellbeing at the core of discussions on sustainability and responsible operations.
“As we look towards 2026, we are raising our ambition once more: expanding physiotherapy and mental health support, growing our neurodiversity programme, launching a skin cancer screening pilot, and developing seafarer-friendly GP practices with Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) accreditation. We are doing this because every seafarer deserves care that understands them. Support that reaches them and a system that works for them,” said Sandra Welch. The Seafarers Hospital Society remains committed to ensuring every seafarer can access equitable, timely, and specialist care, wherever their work may take them.