| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 02/07/2010 | Climate Change and Sustainability Focus For Rural Health Week |
Developing positive rural responses to the inter-related issues of health, climate change and sustainability will be the theme of this year's Rural Health Week from September 19-25.
The Institute for Rural Health (IRH), which organises the annual Rural Health Week, is hoping that local, regional and national groups and organisations will get involved this year by adopting variations on the theme.
Groups and organisations are being encouraged to use the week to launch a new aspect of their work, run an information day that brings together speakers on the different aspects with a joint discussion afterwards or organise an exhibition that makes the links between the issues.
"Ensuring equitable health provision in rural areas may require services to be delivered differently and additional resources but this provision has also to be sustainable and take account of environmental issues," explained Jane Randall Smith, chief executive of the IRH, which is based at Gregynog Hall, near Newtown in Mid Wales.
"So this is not just a question of limited financial resources but of how we use people and services, how we set up systems that can continue to enable people to access health care and how we respond to the demands of climate change.
"Rather than a reactive response to these demands there may be the opportunity to develop strategies that respond positively to all three agendas. So, for example, the use of health professionals to take services out to remote and rural patients will reduce health journeys and increase access for patients without their own transport.
"The development of telehealth delivery and conferencing systems, which had not until recently reflected the initial enthusiasm and promise, may be given new impetus and input from the voluntary sector to help tackle local provision could be given higher status and value."
The IRH can help groups and organisations by advertising and sharing an event or activity on the Rural Health Week website www.irh.ac.uk/rural-health-week. Messages of support and supporters' priority rural health issues will also be posted on the website. Supporters are also encouraged to advertise the week on their own web pages to spread the message far and wide.
Examples of good practice and innovative services that emerge during the week will be shared on the www.ruralhealthgoodpractice.org.uk online database.
To find out more or to submit details of activities for Rural Health Week contact either Mrs Randall-Smith at janers@irh.ac.uk or IRH information officer Helen Porter at helenp@irh.ac.uk or telephone 01686 650800.
Rural Health Week is designed to raise the profile of rural health issues locally, regionally and nationally by bringing together people at all levels, from individuals and voluntary organisations to health professionals and local government workers.
The week aims to celebrate the successes as well as to raise awareness of the challenges involved in delivering health and care services to dispersed rural communities.
One of the major events associated with the week is the Rural Doctors' Conference, which is this year being held at Gregynog Hall, Tregynon, near Newtown from September 22-24. Organised by Montgomeryshire Medical Society in partnership with the IRH, the conference attracts quality speakers and is attended by rural GPs and their primary care colleagues.
Formed 13 years ago, the IRH is a UK-wide academic charity, working to inform, develop and promote the health and wellbeing of rural people and their communities. Its three main academic programme areas are research projects contributing to the evidence base, education and training and policy analysis, including rural proofing.
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For more information please contact Jane Randall-Smith, Institute of Rural Health chief executive, on 01686 650800 or Duncan Foulkes, public relations adviser, on 01686 650818.