Remote, Rural and Island Resource Hub
Discover a curated selection of studies, evaluations, toolkits and research papers that explore the distinct challenges and opportunities in delivering health and care across remote, rural and island communities. This collection brings together leading academic and practical insights from around the world, giving you easy access to the most current and relevant literature in the field.
Each resource includes a clear, concise summary and a direct link to the original publisher. Content is organised into themed sections, helping you quickly find the areas most relevant to your interests.
Whether you’re a researcher, practitioner, policymaker or student, this page is designed to support your work and contribute to the ongoing development of health and care in remote, rural and island settings.
Explore:
We will be continuing to grow and develop this resource hub. If there is a paper or resource relating to remote, rural or island health and care that you think could be featured here, please contact us.
Please also contact us if you need any further information or support, at nes.ruralteam@nhs.scot.
To join our Stakeholder Mailing List, please use the following link: Join Stakeholder Mailing List
Workforce Recruitment and Retention
This Living Resource Library is designed to help employers and colleagues across NHS Scotland, Health and Care settings and wider stakeholders access relevant learning materials, research, and resources relevant to recruitment and retention of the remote, rural and island health and care workforce. Our aim is to make remote, rural, and island health and care insights easier to navigate and apply in practice.
Recruitment, Retention and Attraction Resources for Employers
Recruitment and Retention Videos for Employers
Employer Guidance
Employer Templates
Job Advert Support
Role Design Support
Community Engagement and Service Co-Design
Community engagement and service co‑design ensure that health and care services in remote, rural and island communities are shaped by the people who use them, reflecting local needs, strengths and lived experience.
Healthcare Policy and Strategy
Explore the Healthcare Policies and Strategy in remote, rural and island settings, that focus on creating flexible, resilient systems that reflect local realities, ensuring people receive high‑quality care regardless of geography.
Rural Healthcare Services Design and Planning
Rural healthcare service design and planning focuses on creating flexible, community‑responsive models of care that address the unique challenges of geography, workforce, and access with the ambition to ensure people receive safe, sustainable services close to home.
Rural Health Services Models and Case Studies
Rural health service models and case studies showcase innovative, community‑driven approaches to delivering safe, sustainable care in remote and rural areas, highlighting practical solutions that adapt to local needs and real‑world challenges.
Rural Mental Health
Rural mental health focuses on understanding and addressing the unique wellbeing challenges faced by people living in remote and rural communities, where limited services, distance and social isolation can make accessing support more difficult.
Rural Resilience, Population Sustainability and Community Development
Rural resilience, population sustainability and community development focus on keeping rural communities strong, vibrant and viable for the future.
Rural Primary Care Practice Resources
These resources bring together a collection of practical tools, guidance, and learning materials designed to support rural GPs and multidisciplinary teams. These resources are tailored to the unique challenges of delivering primary care in remote and rural communities.
Practical Guidance for Rural GP Practices
Rural Practitioner and Independent Rural Contractor Case Studies
IMG Doctor Rural Recruitment and Induction Resources
Explore practical tools and guidance to support the recruitment, retention, and induction of IMG doctors into rural and independent contractor practices. These resources help practices build a stable workforce and provide a smooth, supportive transition for incoming doctors.
IMG Doctor Rural Recruitment Resources
IMG Doctor Rural Induction Resources