Everyone’s talking about “rural health inequality”. There was even a “Summit” on the subject last month. MCO were invited to attend and it certainly gave some food for thought. But what does it really mean and why is it important?
On the face of it, we’re so lucky to live and work in this beautiful rural county. But we all know that access to health services for hospital treatment or tests can mean a round trip of 80 miles to get to James Cook or 60 miles to Harrogate Hospital. If you can’t drive, with regular public transport options gone, it can be even more of a problem, sometimes leading to health concerns being ignored or put aside. The negative consequences of this are obvious.
Rural Areas Missing Out
One of the speakers at the Summit, the CEO of Healthwatch North Yorkshire, pointed out that people living rurally can actually often feel like they are ignored anyway…
- Closure of conveniences that others take for granted like banks, Post Offices, shops, schools and local health care, made worse by the reduction in transport options.
- New technology is often seen as a solution with more and more done via the internet. But many rural areas miss out again due to poor broadband services.
- Rising rents and house prices add to the problem, risking life becoming unaffordable for younger families who may be forced to move away leaving behind a higher proportion of older people and not enough working age people to enable rural businesses to thrive.
- Our GPs are funded per capita of population, regardless of age or vulnerability, so you can easily see how this imbalance can be a problem: Less resources shared among a community with greater needs; there are fewer people with the energy and skills for volunteering in their community – running sporting activities, youth activities – things that will improve the quality of life for people or families like themselves and without which health and life generally is diminished.
Other speakers at the Summit included David Skaith (the new Mayor of York and North Yorkshire), The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon (who chairs the North Yorkshire Rural Commission), Richard Webb, Director of Health and Adult Services for North Yorkshire Council, and organisations from all perspectives were invited to participate and hear about the knock on effects.
Knock-On Effects on Health
So, it has become clear that what appears to be an idyllic rural life, can conceal difficulties that have further negative knock-on effects, especially to physical health and mental wellbeing.
In 2021 the Rural Commission’s report, highlighted many of these rural challenges but the impact on health is only now becoming clear.
That’s a potted version of the problem of “rural health inequality” and why it’s seen as important.
Part of a Solution
Local voluntary groups are seen as part of a solution. One small charity making a difference is Field Nurse, who provide healthcare support at livestock auction marts in Skipton and across Lancashire.
Their small team of trained nurses—many with farming backgrounds—offer health screenings, mental health support, and signposting to essential services to the farming community who otherwise might not seek help. It’s a small scale practical initiative – one part of a solution perhaps…
At Mashamshire Community Office, we’re one of many voluntary organisations getting involved to explore how we might address some of these issues in our locality and be part of a solution.
From providing answers to questions about how best to access services that were once more readily available, to running minibus trips to get people out and about, from organising short wellbeing walks to keep people socially and physically active, to exploring how we might improve local transport.
Let us know if there are activities that you’d like to see available locally or, even better, help to organise.
Let’s help each other keep our community connected and thriving…
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