Shaping rural healthcare

for rural needs

The ACRE Network Rural Proofing Working Group and ACRE are collaborating to ensure that the reforms set out in the government’s 10-Year Health Plan meet the needs of rural communities.

They are taking a two-pronged approach, which brings together local grassroots action with national engagement.

Nine ACRE Network members set up the working group last autumn, and have been developing products and services that integrated care boards and other service providers could commission to help inform their planning process.

These tools are now being tested locally.

ACRE is supporting this work nationally in two ways. Firstly, by raising awareness of the healthcare needs of rural communities with patient care organisations and policy advisers such as the King’s Fund, which has existing and wide-ranging connections with ICBs and other decision-making bodies.

Secondly, by briefing government on how the ACRE Network can help to deliver the 10-Year Health Plan on the ground.

This is an early example of ACRE’s new strategy in action, as healthcare is one of the five priority issues for the next five years.

By building new alliances outside of the rural affairs sector, it is hoped that ACRE will be able to broaden its influence.

The next steps for the project are to collect case study data and promote the tools being developed with new contacts at both national and regional events.

For more information, contact Alex Picot, Chief Executive, Dorset Community Action, at alex.picot@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk, or Nora Corkery, Chief Executive, Devon Communities Together, at ncorkery@devoncommunities.org.uk.