Posts by amteditor:
- 95% of patients would find it difficult if their surgery stopped dispensing
- Half of dispensing households include at least one person over 65
- One in six dispensing households include at least one disabled person
- Surgeries are a vital part of rural services that patients do not want to lose
Rural unemployment ‘steady’
December 3rd, 2008Despite widespread fears over jobs, rural unemployment levels have remained steady over the past year, according to a report from the Commission for Rural Communities.
The report is the first of a series of regular reports to rural affairs secretary Hilary Benn detailing the effects of the recession on rural areas.
“Unemployment levels in rural areas have stayed similar at around 195,000 – when allowance is made for challenges of sample errors,” says the document. “This contrasts with urban areas where the number of people unemployed increased from 1.284m to 1.462m.”
To download the report go to: CRC report
Guide to Sustainable Communities Act
December 3rd, 2008A guide to the Sustainable Communities Act, which gives new powers to local people to drive action to make their communities more sustainable, has been produced by Local Works – a campaign to persuade local authorities to implement the act.
To download the guide and other resources, go to:Sustainable Communities guide
Capacitybuilders launches
December 2nd, 2008Capacitybuilders has launched a £5million capital grants programme to develop third sector resource centres. There are three phases to the programme:
Phase 1 provides an opportunity for established centres to secure an injection of funds, enabling them to make better use of existing resources. Open for application until the 31 January 2009, with up to £1m on offer for investment up to March 2009.
Phase 2 has around £2.5m to support significant refurbishment and development of premises. Expressions of interests are welcome from existing or developing resource centres up to the 31 January 2009.
Phase 3 will invest around £1.5million in around five ‘flagship’ projects that will develop or significantly expand local third sector resource centres. The deadline for expressions of interest under this phase is 31 March 2009.
For more details and application forms go to: Capacitybuilders
Community investment guide
December 2nd, 2008A guide: ‘Community Investment using Industrial and Provident Society Legislation’ has been published by Cooperatives UK. Authored by Jim Brown, principal consultant for Baker Brown Associates, a research and development co-operative specialising in the social economy and lifelong learning, it describes the IPS format and gives a step-by-step guide to getting started.
It can be downloaded at:Community Investment guide
Rural patients back threatened GPs
December 2nd, 2008The government is being urged to abandon controversial proposals that would make life harder for rural patients.
Currently, physically impaired patients or those who live more than a mile from a chemist can choose to have their medicines dispensed by their GP.
These arrangements – in place for almost a century – save rural patients from undertaking an additional journey to their nearest pharmacy. But the government’s Pharmacy White Paper includes plans to withdraw doctors’ right to dispense medicine.
Most patients want to retain their choice to receive medicines from their doctor, according to a study by the Dispensing Doctors’ Association.
The report represents the views of more than 6,000 surveyed patients registered with a dispensing practice in England.
Association chief executive David Baker said the survey findings reflected a high level of support for GP dispensing among many rural patients.
It found that:
The DDA consultation response to the White Paper can be downloaded at: Dispensing Doctors
Rural proofing review
December 2nd, 2008A review of the process of ‘rural proofing’, which was introduced in the 2000 Rural White Paper, has been produced by the Centre for Rural Policy at the University of Newcastle.
The review describes what rural proofing is, how it is done and who it is done by. Progress with rural proofing is reviewed,drawing on the evidence contained in the annual rural proofing reports produced by the Countryside Agency and CRC.
Finally, there is a discussion of how rural proofing may develop in future, with reference to the mainstreaming agenda.
To download the report, go to: Rural Proofing Report
