Information and resources relating to the credential in rural and remote health
NHS Education for Scotland in partnership with the General Medical Council have developed and launched in April 2024 a Credential in Rural and Remote Health focusing on Unscheduled and Urgent Care.
The credentials aim is to provide a supportive training framework for doctors practising unscheduled and urgent care in R&R contexts.
Aligned with “Excellence by Design”, the Rural and Remote Health credential curriculum is outcomes-based. Progression will therefore depend on capability rather than time.
The credential has been developed in partnership with stakeholders across the UK.
Credential Curriculum Rural and Remote Health (Unscheduled and Urgent Care)
The curriculum will be delivered through a variety of learning experiences and will allow learners to achieve the capabilities through a variety of learning methods. There will be a balance of different modes of learning from experiential learning ‘on the job’ to more formal courses. The proportion of time allocated to different learning methods will vary depending on the previous experience of the learner. Training will be constructed to enable learners to experience the full range of educational and training opportunities available and there will be robust arrangements for quality assurance in place to ensure consistent implementation of the curriculum.
Although training is generally expected to be experiential and most of the learning will take place in the learner’s place of work, there will be some aspects of training that cannot be met in the locality and the learner will be required to undertake blocks of supervised time in specialist centres or unit.
There are two routes for securing an award of a Credential in Rural and Remote Health (Unscheduled and Urgent Care):
To ensure that consistent standards are applied for doctors gaining the credential via either the learner or recognition route:
Version 0.2 updated January 2025 - full details of changes are detailed on page 3 of the curriculum.
Overview of Credential in Rural and Remote Health: Unscheduled and Urgent care.
Quality-assured learning: Equipping doctors, assuring employers and benefitting rural communities.
Please see video below which highlights the benefits to learners of undertaking the Rural and Remote Credential and also the benefits to people living in remote, rural and island communities.