Ministers Seek Views On Rural Health Plan For Wales

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 25 Jun 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Health Minister Edwina Hart and Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones will speak at an event held as part of the consultation process on a major new plan to drive forward improvements in healthcare services in rural areas.

The Rural Health Plan, which is out to consultation until 21 August, delivers on a commitment in the One Wales document, and aims to address the challenges faced in ensuring people have appropriate healthcare particularly in sparsely populated communities.

The document has been developed by a group under the chairmanship of Lord Elystan Morgan in close consultation with local people, health professionals and other key groups in rural areas.

The plan includes:

- The primary care workforce will be re-evaluated so that practitioners could fulfil more than one role for the convenience of the patient;
- Pharmacy networks will be developed by the Assembly Government to support healthcare services and encourage partnerships in the community;
- Community hospitals will need to be modernised with a new purpose, for example possibly as a base for out of hours services and specialist treatment; and,
- A review of alternative methods of providing emergency and non-emergency transport to ensure that rural patients have adequate access to healthcare whatever their circumstances.

Health Minister Edwina Hart said that the plan outlines how services can be delivered locally for the benefit of patients.

"Wales is extremely fortunate to have such a rich rural landscape but that does pose special challenges in providing effective healthcare for people in rural communities.

"We aim to deliver as many services as possibly locally where they can be provided safely and effectively, but do recognise that for some, especially highly specialised services, patients may need to travel. However, at the moment in rural areas, even for some more routine services, patients still have to travel.

"By integrating services and utilising fully the skills of all staff that work in the NHS in rural areas, we will be able to improve care for patients and provide more career opportunities for staff.

"I am pleased that this document delivers one of our key One Wales commitments, and will help meet people's health and social care needs.

"I urge members of the public to read the plan carefully and have their say on the proposals. All comments will be taken into account during the consultation and reflected to ensure we provide better services in rural communities."

Elin Jones added: "Getting services to people and people to services across the whole spectrum of health and social care is essential to the future of rural health in Wales. I anticipate that the proposals will kick-start an enthusiastic and constructive debate on health services in Wales. I hope that rural residents will take the opportunity to air their views in the planned workshops across Wales so they take an active part in building their health service."

Lord Elystan Morgan said: "Providing easy access to services that people are entitled to within rural areas brings many challenges. For example, a concentrated and increasing ageing population, prevalent in rural communities hinders access, as do transport services and distances travelled. We have developed this consultation paper by looking at the picture of rural communities as a whole, taking into account social and economic factors, to ensure its success within communities."

The consultation will close after on the 21 August 2009 and can be viewed here.

Source
Welsh Assembly Government