Lords to ask Public Health England how it can improve health services in rural areas

On Tuesday 18th December the House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy will hold two evidence sessions for its inquiry investigating the challenges and opportunities facing rural areas. 

Rural areas receive less funding per resident than urban areas under NHS allocations. In the first session, the Committee will ask witnesses about the strain that the ageing population puts on rural health and social care services, poor transport links to health providers and lack of funding.

The evidence session will begin at 9:45am and the Committee will question:

·         Dr Rashmi Shukla, Director, Midlands & East of England, Public Health England

·         Nigel Edwards, Chief Executive, Nuffield Trust

·         Billy Palmer, Senior Fellow, Nuffield Trust

·         Professor Richard Parish CBE, Chair, National Centre for Rural Health and Care 

Other questions the Committee are likely to ask include:

·         What are the main challenges when it comes to recruiting and retaining staff to work in health and social care in rural areas? How can rural areas attract the staff they need?

·         Are there sufficient education and training opportunities for people either already living in rural areas or for people who would be interested in working in rural areas as health and social care professionals? 

·         What are the opportunities arising from new technology for delivering health and social care services in rural areas? 

Church buildings provide facilities and organise activities that deliver services, reduce social isolation and build community cohesion. However only 2% of young adults identify with the Church of England. In the second session, the Committee will ask the witnesses how they define the role of the church in rural communities today and what they would say that churches contribute to the rural economy.

This session will begin at 10:45am and the Committee will question:

·         Reverend Claire Maxim, Chief Executive, Germinate/Arthur Rank Centre

·         Reverend Elizabeth Clark MA, National Rural Officer, Methodist and United Reformed Churches

·         Dr Jill Hopkinson, National Rural Officer, Church of England 

Other questions the Committee are likely to ask include:

·         How do religious institutions seek to support activity where their spaces are used as hosting shops and services for the community?

·         The Committee has heard about the WiSpires scheme for improving mobile and broadband coverage. Can you tell us more about that scheme – what are its strengths and limitations?

·         Is there a role for rural churches to play a more active role in supporting rural business growth?

·         What role does the church play, in its pastoral role and more broadly, in tackling issues such as deprivation and social isolation in rural areas?