January 2024 Edition

In this first edition of Casebook for the year we focus on the impact a taxi tax could have on accessing healthcare in rural areas, a debate on rural dentistry, NHS targets, and how rural areas are missing out on specialised healthcare. Nigel Edwards the National Centre for Rural Health and Care Chair, also provides a useful update on Centre activity. And there is a free seminar opportunity from one of our members too. Read on to find out more...

National Centre Update

There are many challenges in health and local government in rural areas and there is huge value in networks as a way to help people share ideas about how they are dealing with these.  In my first few months as chair, I have been thinking about whether there is a need for more focused work to provide support to people who find themselves responsible for developing integrated health and care strategies for rural communities.  The NHS is calling this place based leadership but it generally relates to District Council or small unitary authority areas and the approach should be a partnership not NHS dominated.

There is a lot being asked ranging from dealing with workforce shortages, reducing inequalities, improving prevention, developing more integrated ways of working and exploiting opportunities for economic development.  Rural areas have particular problems but also assets and opportunities that can be built on.  Many of the ideas and policies are developed by people with urban areas as their model and so there is a need for rural areas to work on their own version but also to use the capabilities and assets that are available.

I have identified a lot of people working on these issues who have expertise to share and I want to use the resources of the Centre and its partners to connect them with local leaders. 

I am developing ideas for learning communities for people to share insights into the problems and solutions they are developing and learn from each other.  This would include jointly working on approaches to creating change, providing a forum for bringing in external experts and policy makers and hopefully, to also make connections to others who they can learn from. 

If you might be interested in this do drop me a line.

“Taxi Tax” threatens rural healthcare access

In a move that could disproportionately affect rural communities across the UK, the proposed 20% VAT hike on private hire and minicab journeys – colloquially termed the 'Taxi Tax' – is raising alarms about the accessibility of essential services, particularly healthcare.

A petition initiated by 38 Degrees, a platform advocating for social change, calls on the government to reconsider this increase. The concern is amplified in rural areas where public transport options are limited, and private hire vehicles are often the only means of transport for many, especially for attending medical appointments.

Read the full article here

Debate on NHS dentistry raises rural concerns

A debate in the House of Commons on 9th January raised concerns over the lack of NHS dentists available.

It cited a Nuffield Trust report into the State of NHS Dentistry which states that NHS funded dental services in England, ‘are in near terminal decline with nearly 6 million fewer courses of NHS dental treatment being provided last year than in the pre-pandemic year’.

Many MPs raised concerns faced by their constituents about the lack of access to NHS dentistry in their area, with Ashley Dalton MP stating that ‘in 2024 it is easier to get your hands on a Taylor Swift tickets than to get an NHS dental appointment!”

Read the full article here

NHS targets missed

The BBC reported this month on the key NHS targets that have never been met.

Research by the BBC shows that 'The analysis focused on the three key hospital targets, covering A&E, cancer and waiting times for planned care'.

Combined, the length of time during which the targets have been missed tops 100 years.

King's Fund think tank chief analyst Siva Anandaciva said the findings of the BBC analysis should "act as a wake-up call". "These are the key totemic targets," he said. "The length of time they have been missed is incredible."

Read the full article here

London gets well over fair share of specialised NHS services while rural areas miss out

The Health Service Journal recently reported on NHS England figures.  HSJ findings suggest “people in some more rural areas are missing out on specialist treatments they should be getting, while Londoners are receiving a lot more than their fair share”.

The HSJ goes on to report that:

“First ICS (Integrated Care Systems) specialised service allocations reveal:

• Systematic shortfalls in access to remote communities.
• Spending on Londoners is 9.8 per cent over target.
• Suggests those living further from specialist services are missing out, including on cancer and cardiac treatment.

NHS England has suggested the main cause is “systematic shortfalls in access [in] remote communities”, leaving “unmet need” for specialised services in these areas.

Read the full article here

National Rural Mental Health Forum, free online seminar

The National Rural Mental Health Forum, run by the mental health charity Change Mental Health, continues its online seminars tackling some of the pressing issues in rural communities.

On the 28th of February at 11am, the Forum shall hear from Robert Gordon University on the prevalence of gender-based violence in remote, rural and island communities. There shall be opportunities to engage with this research and consider actions needed.

Professor Sara Pedersen of Robert Gordon University (RGU) states “Despite the fact that one-fifth of the Scottish population lives in remote, rural and island communities, there has been limited research into the impact of Gender-Based Violence in these areas. The challenges already faced by victim-survivors were further heightened by COVID-19 and lockdowns. Stress factors such as having to work from home, concerns about health and money, and having to homeschool children, all meant that tensions were heightened during the pandemic. At the same time, lockdown conditions were used by abusers to intensify or conceal their violence.

Researchers from RGU will discuss the findings of a study investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on partnerships between the police and Gender-Based Violence service providers in rural, remote and island communities in Scotland at the National Rural Mental Health Forum online seminar on 28 February. The project outputs include a short film, which will be shown during the event.”

The Forum shall also hear from the charity Perennial, which supports those in the horticultural industry.

Emily Currie, Programme Manager, Health Prevention at Perennial highlights that “Perennial is the UK’s only occupational charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in horticulture, and their families. By horticulture we mean anyone working with plants, trees, grass or flowers. Perennial’s Services Team is aiming to inform, educate and influence horticulture workers to be proactive about their health and wellbeing, financial wellbeing, and their careers and skills. These areas have been prioritised based on a 2021 industry-wide Survey. This Survey showed mental health in the industry to be an issue where 85% of people scored below average or poor for their mental wellbeing. The team are looking at evidence-based early intervention solutions to address this issue. They are aiming to build the health literacy of workers, so they take preventative actions to protect their mental wellbeing and seek help early. The Team will discuss their two-year Mental Health First Aid pilot project and the impact it is having, as well as the free and confidential advice, information and support offered by Perennial to horticultural community.”

If you wish to join this free online seminar, then please register here

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RURAL SERVICES NETWORK

Up to date news on Health and Care
The Rural Services Network provides a useful source of themed news content and data. Check out the latest news on Health & Wellbeing and Vulnerability, where you’ll find articles on a diverse range of rural issues affecting rural communities. You might also find this research on Over 65 Population Projections useful too.

Latest from RSN Member Insights
RSN Member Insights is the place to discover the statistics that define communities within our membership.  It is regularly updated with new analyses, and these will be highlighted in the 'What's New' section of the RSN's Weekly Rural Bulletin. The Rural Bulletin also provides a selection of the most rurally topical news items, so do subscribe and encourage your colleagues to subscribe to what is an invaluable weekly periodical.

To make a suggestion of data that would benefit you by being included in the Member Insights section, please email Dan Worth, our Research and Performance Analyst, at dan.worth@sparse.gov.uk.

The Rural Health & Care Alliance is a membership organisation administered by the Rural Services Network on behalf of the National Centre for Rural Health & Care.  Explore the RHCA service below: