DDA raises rural injustice at rural conference

Dispensing patients’ lack of access to Pharmacy First-type services was raised by the DDA at this week’s Rural Services Network (RSN) National Rural Conference 2026.

Speaking to health service commissioners, a DDA spokesman pointed out that rural patients lacked access to these new services because equivalent services are not available from their dispensing GPs.

In response, Gill O’Neill, executive director of public health at Northumberland County Council, told the conference that there was a need to “think differently” and that Neighbourhood Health framework planning could be an opportunity to do that. “We need to make sure that people can access a GP or a pharmacy at an early stage,” she said.

The conference heard that the average walking time to access a GP in rural areas is 57 minutes. It also heard that ageing populations can struggle with digital solutions, and that there is underfunding of patient transport services. Volunteer drivers are one solution, but better access to healthcare service remains a pressing need. The conference heard that 70 per cent of community transport journeys are for health reasons, yet it only receives 11 per cent of funding.

Delegates told the conference that people fail to seek medical treatment or vaccinations due to lack of transport.

Conference co-speaker and London School of Economics Researcher Dr Michael Clark urged health policy makers to “park assumptions” about rural areas. He said they should “walk the walk in rural areas, and support local leaders to find local solutions.”

DDA news Political News Rurality