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.
Reports on rural nursing and AHP placements
Throughout 2024/2025 the Centre undertook scoping work to understand the current role of undergraduate nursing and allied health professional students in remote, rural and island primary and community care within Scotland.
Two reports have been produced with action plans that highlight the complexity with many inter and intra related factors detailed in the reports as themes and sub-themes. The main themes include data visibility, sharing and integration; the recognised value of both the nursing and AHP workforce; MDT working; placements themselves especially accommodation availability and suitability and public finances.
A further report focuses on data visibility, sharing and integration. There needs to be a layered but systems approach to equality of opportunity for nursing and allied health professional students’ placements and placement sustainability in remote, rural and island geographical areas of Scotland.
