Rural Access to Health and Care Services

Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and recruitment hurdles for healthcare workers.

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18 Feb 2025

Shaping the rural health service

Health and Wellbeing Boards across England are currently preparing a document that shapes the delivery of NHS pharmaceutical services such as dispensing medicines. The new documents will be published in...

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18 Feb 2025

Making GP visits easier for rural communities

If you live in a rural area, you might have faced some challenges when trying to see your GP—long wait times, confusing booking systems, or even not being sure what...

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18 Feb 2025

Knowing your rights and accessing support as a patient

Many patients are unaware of their rights and the additional support available to them as they navigate their healthcare journey. It is particularly important that patients who experience unequal access...

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17 Feb 2025

Over Two Million Extra NHS Appointments Delivered Early

In a major healthcare milestone, the government has announced that over two million additional NHS appointments have been delivered early, including crucial treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy, and diagnostic...

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11 Feb 2025

NPA Highlights Funding Crisis in Rural Pharmacies

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has recently brought to light a critical issue impacting rural communities across rural communities in England, particularly in the South West. Over the past decade,...

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03 Feb 2025

Insights from the Health Innovation Network’s Latest Report

Health disparities have long cast a shadow over the well-being of rural communities, a situation further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The recently published report by the Health Innovation Network,...

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20 Jan 2025

SEND System at Breaking Point: The Growing Financial Risk to Local Authorities

A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a stark warning about the sustainability of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England. Without urgent...

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14 Jan 2025

Funding Boost to Enhance Early Childhood Services

The Department of Health and Social Care, along with the Department for Education, have announced a funding boost amounting to £126 million aimed at improving early years services for families...

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06 Jan 2025

Government Announces New Measures and Independent Commission for Social Care Reform

The Department of Health and Social Care, detailed a series of new measures aimed at reforming adult social care. These measures include immediate financial investments, and the establishment of an...

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10 Dec 2024

Milestones for change, for rural?

The Prime Minister Kier Starmer last week unveiled his Plan for Change, setting out ‘ambitious but achievable milestones they aim to meet by the end of this Parliament.’ The missions...

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