A civilized society is one in which health and wellbeing are promoted, and care is provided to those requiring help or assistance to live a full and productive life.  The benefits of a healthy community are measurable both in terms of economy and the relative levels of happiness and fulfillment experienced.  Likewise, the negative impact of health inequality is also a measurable factor in the wellbeing of a community.  This section of the Observatory takes a look at the indicators of health, wellbeing, and the functions of social services to provide a perspective on how rural communities fare in these measures.