Welcome to the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care Information Hub
This platform brings together key project updates, guidance, and resources supporting the National Centre’s programme of work.
Here you’ll find information designed to help colleagues across NHS Scotland, Health and Care settings and wider stakeholders access relevant learning materials, research, and sessions developed and delivered by the NC R&R HC team. Our aim is to make remote, rural, and island health and care knowledge easier to navigate and apply in practice.
Explore:
If you need any further information or support, please contact us at nes.ruralteam@nhs.scot.
To join our Stakeholder Mailing List, please use the following link: Join Stakeholder Mailing List
National Centre for Remote & Rural Health & Care to Deliver a Refreshed Rural and Islands Programme
The National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care
In 2026, the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care (the National Centre) will evolve to deliver a refreshed Rural and Islands programme to achieve sustainable improvements for the rural and island health and social care workforce.
Committed to supporting rural and island workforces and their communities, the Scottish Government (SG) are investing in Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland) to design a new model of delivery. This will build on the National Centre’s achievements, aligns to Sub-National Planning activity, and delivers on the priorities of the new government.
Over the summer, PSD Scotland will work closely with stakeholders across rural and island areas to co-design this enhanced programme. Drawing on the evaluation of the National Centre’s work, the new approach will:
· Build capacity within local systems
· Strengthen collaboration
· Improve workforce competence and resilience
· Support the sustainability and quality of local services
This refreshed model will be nationally driven and locally delivered, ensuring that rural and island communities benefit from targeted support in key areas. This will include recruitment and retention, education and training, research and evaluation, and workforce and leadership development.
Find out more
To discover more about the National Centre’s learning resources, please visit:
· explore National Centre resources
· visit the PSD Scotland website
You can also:
· follow PSD Scotland on LinkedIn
· follow PSD Scotland on Facebook
About PSD Scotland
PSD Scotland, established on 1 April 2026, brings together NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) into a single national organisation that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.
By driving innovation and transformation through a Once for Scotland approach, PSD Scotland will equip health and social care staff to deliver prevention-focused care, use resources more effectively, and improve outcomes for people accessing services.
The National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care Resources
Discover more information on our current projects on each of the programme pillars below:
National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care Phase 1
To find out more information on what the National Centre will deliver in Phase 1, visit the Delivery Plan Information Document.
National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care Year 1 Progress Report
To find out more information on what the National Centre has delivered in Phase 1, visit the Year 1 Progress Report.
Independent Evaluation Highlights Early Impact of the National Centre
For more information visit Remote & Rural News | Turas | Learn
Current Updates and Information
Students feedback on their participation and impact of RAP MSc Programme
View case studies from students who recently completed the RAP MSc Programme Case Studies | Turas | Learn
Rural Advanced Practice (RAP) MSc Programme Funding Applications 2026
Applications for funding support to undertake the RAP MSc Programme are now open. Please visit Education and Training | Turas | Learn for further information.
National Centre Stakeholder Feedback Survey
The purpose of the survey is to gather your feedback, views and ideas to ensure our work continues to reflect the needs and expectations of our stakeholders.
Your time in participating is greatly appreciated and will inform the next phase of our work supporting rural and island health and care across Scotland.
We anticipate that completing the survey will take no more than 10 minutes.
Complete the survey at National Centre Remote and Rural Health and Care Stakeholder feedback survey - 2026
SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NES Bereavement Conference 11 November 2026
A free one-day virtual event for all those working across health and social care.
This follows on from the success of the 2025 event, which saw over 1300 delegates register. Read more and watch clips from the 2025 conference here.
After the success of last year’s call for abstracts, we are again welcoming abstracts for the hosting of parallel sessions. We are also accepting poster abstracts.
Further information about the event, how to submit an abstract and the relevant deadlines can be found on this page of the NES Events website.
Registration is not yet open but to note interest in attending, please email events@nes.scot.nhs.uk. You will be added to a mailing list and contacted when registration opens.
New Training Programme for Dispensing GP Practices
This eLearning training package has been developed to support GP Practices who dispense medicines throughout rural & island communities in Scotland. The training is for practice managers, administrative staff and others who dispense medicines within rural and island Primary Care Practices. To access the full Dispensing GP Practices Training Programme, please ensure you are logged into your TURAS account.
For further information and an introduction to Dispensing GP Practice please visit Dispensing GP Practices | Turas | Learn
Remote Rural and Island Resource Hub and Toolkit
The National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care, in collaboration with the NES Centre for Workforce Supply, is inviting feedback on the Scottish Government Rural and Islands Direct Support Model Toolkit.
For further information please visit NES Intranet
Rural Advanced Practice MSc Report now Available
Visit Rural Advanced Practice MSc Programme for more information.
Credential in Rural and Remote Health (GMC)
The new Rural and Remote Health Credential, focusing on unscheduled and urgent care, developed in a UK-wide partnership and led by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), will play a pivotal role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of rural communities - visit Credential in Rural and Remote Health (GMC) to find out more.
Communication and Engagement Calendar
January 2026 Key Activity and Communications
Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Rural Placements
There is a need within remote, rural and island Scotland to increase the availability of multidisciplinary primary and community care undergraduate (pre-registration) student placements. Existing published literature tries to understand the current role of undergraduate nursing and Allied Health Professional (AHP) students in primary care in local, national, and international contexts which highlights the significance and the benefits of recruitment, retention and the broader implications of the primary and community care landscape.
View the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care Undergraduate Report.
Learning Event Series
The Centre aims to help improve increased access to Continuous Professional Development sessions for primary care practitioners that focus on improving health and care outcomes for remote, rural and island communities.
Explore our Resources
Explore the range of collated resources to support colleagues across NHS Scotland, Health and Care settings and wider stakeholders access relevant learning materials, research, and learning sessions.
