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.
21 Oct 2026
Parliament To Hear Dispensing GP Issues At Rural Health Drop-In
MPs are asked to join Dispensing Doctors’ Association (DDA) Board members at a drop in meeting to discuss rural dispensing NHS GP practices. The meeting takes place on Wednesday 4...
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20 Oct 2026
Making Rural Patient Voices Count
A new report from the Patients Association calls for stronger protections to ensure patients can shape health and care services, and see their concerns acted on. Drawing on discussions with...
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20 Oct 2026
Report Highlights The Rural Healthcare Penalty
NHS funding and service reforms must better reflect the challenges facing rural and coastal communities, according to a new report from Policy Exchange. For rural residents, getting healthcare can involve...
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12 Oct 2026
One In Four Children Wait A Year For Community Care
More than one in four children waiting for community health services in England have been on the list for at least a year, according to new analysis by The King’s...
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05 Oct 2026
Rising Social Care Costs Increase Pressure On Council Services
Rising social care demand is placing growing pressure on council finances and the wider services communities depend on. Official Government figures show that English councils spent £27.4 billion on adult...
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02 Oct 2026
Two Free Patients Association Webinars: Patient Consent And Bladder & Bowel Care
The Patients Association is hosting two free webinars this October, exploring how patients can make informed choices about their care and access products and services that meet their needs. Patients,...
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28 Sep 2026
More Than 280,000 People Lose Their Local Pharmacy In 2026
More than 280,000 people in England have seen their local pharmacy close in the first eight months of 2026, according to analysis by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). The NPA’s...
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28 Sep 2026
Professor Chris Whitty To Speak At RSN Rural Health & Care Seminar
RSN members are invited to join our next Rural Health & Care seminar on Wednesday, 2 December 2026, from 11am to 1pm. We are delighted that Professor Chris Whitty, Chief...
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23 Sep 2026
Six Neighbourhood Health Trailblazers Announced
Six areas across England will test new approaches to delivering more joined-up health and care within local communities, including a programme with an explicit focus on rural and coastal areas....
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23 Sep 2026
More NHS Dental Treatments Delivered, But Access Remains Poor
More NHS dental treatments were delivered in England during 2025/26, but many people are still struggling to access care, according to the Nuffield Trust. New NHS figures show that 37.6...
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