Transport provision must be improved if rural residents are to benefit from NHS reform

West of England Rural Network (WERN) urges policy makers to consider the circumstances and needs of rural residents as reform of the NHS gets underway

Two areas in the West of England – South Bristol, and Woodspring covering North Somerset – are amongst 43 ‘neighbourhoods’ selected nationally to test new approaches to delivering health and care “on the doorstep”. This is part of the government’s 10 Year Plan for the NHS which involves moving services from hospitals to the community, greater use of digital technology, and placing an emphasis on preventative care.

But local charity WERN claims that whilst aspirations for NHS reform are admirable, it is far from clear how access to health and care will be improved for rural communities. The organisation is particularly concerned about people without access to a car and those who lack confidence using smartphones and tablets.

In a briefing circulated to policy makers, WERN references rural challenges such an aging population, weak public transport links and limited digital access as key barriers to making health and care more accessible, efficient and effective.

Phillip Vincent, WERN’s Chief Executive said, “Nearly 27% of people in the West of England region live outside of built up areas but their circumstances can get overlooked. Take for example rural parts of North Somerset where more than 1 in 10 people don’t drive. Between 2010 and 2023 the frequency of bus services in the county was allowed to decline by a staggering 66% according to research by Friends of the Earth.

So laudable as Wes Streeting’s plans for NHS reform are, moves to localise health and care provision must account for the difficulties rural residents have accessing services. The neighbourhood health pilot in Woodspring provides an opportunity to get things right. As such we’re calling on colleagues in the NHS to work with local authorities and organisations in the voluntary sector to improve rural public transport and back community-run bus schemes, offer support for people to get online, and maintain the region’s network of village agents who help residents navigate complex care systems”

The charity’s briefing on NHS reform and rural communities can be found here

ENDS

Notes to editors:

West of England Rural Network (WERN) is a charity that exists to facilitate sustainable, resilient and inclusive rural communities where everyone can thrive across the West of England region which includes Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.  It encourages and supports locally-led initiatives, as well as drawing on this experience to make sure rural community needs are understood and acted upon by policy makers and service providers.