National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care: Information Hub

Background: What and Why 

In 2023, the Centre adapted the education and learning programme from the Festival of Learning to provide a programme of learning events delivered online for health and care staff in remote, rural and island primary and community care.

The Remote & Rural Series of Learning Events Session Details and Registration | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot) has been delivered to a broad range of remote & rural practitioners throughout Scotland. The aim of the Remote & Rural Series of Learning Events is to provide learning opportunities for the remote, rural and Island workforce, increasing access to continuous professional development opportunities.

The Remote & Rural Series of Learning Events brings together health and care professionals, as well as community members, to deliver a diverse range of multiagency models of health and care, practice, education, and digital innovation focussing on primary and community care. 

Description: Who and How 

The Centre will engage and collaborate with key stakeholders in remote and rural communities to deliver accessible training events that support the delivery of Primary Care Services. Two sessions per month are delivered and evaluated to gather views on the efficacy of the educational programme and to provide information on promoting models of best practice for the delivery of high-quality health and care in remote, rural and island areas across Scotland through education, training and knowledge sharing networks. The evaluation results will help inform the development of future training sessions to support primary and community care services and an annual report is produced to highlight feedback and ensure future training delivery is relevant and accessible to Primary Care practitioners needs.  

Expected outcome:  When and What Difference

The Centre team will refresh the training needs analysis in 2024 to ensure the Remote & Rural Series of Learning Events is matching the needs of rural practitioners.

The Centre will work with stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of the Remote & Rural Series of Learning Events including further promotion of the programme in late 2024 with a focus on increasing the number of primary care staff from remote and rural areas across Scotland.

The Centre will help increase access to Continuous Professional Development sessions for primary care practitioners that focus on improving health and care outcomes for remote, rural and island communities.