News » Rurality, Scotland » Remote rural Scotland enjoys the highest GP : patient ratios
January 5th 2024
GP to patient ratios are highest in remote rural areas of Scotland, contributing to higher and healthier life expectancy, a new report on rural Scotland concludes.
Rural Scotland Data Dashboard finds that satisfaction with local health services, is highest in remote rural areas (85 per cent), typically served by dispensing GPs, and lowest in accessible small towns (71 per cent).
On islands, the majority of islanders (84 per cent) agree they could easily access a GP.
In remote rural areas, there are around 2,200 patients for every GP compared to over 4,500 in accessible rural areas and 6,500 in large urban areas. The report finds that life expectancy is highest in remote rural areas, at around 79 years for males and in large urban areas was 60.6 years).
Experience of care is also better in remote rural areas: 69 per cent of people receiving care in remote rural areas, agreed that they feel supported to live as independently as possible, compared to 65 per cent in large urban areas.
Among the challenges facing rural patients in Scotland are higher reliance on cars, rising living costs, rising poverty and fuel poverty. In rural areas, journey times to key services are longer than elsewhere in Scotland.
Empty dwellings and second homes are known to be a particular problem in remote rural areas, including islands, and wider research indicates that second home ownership is one factor driving house price inflation in many rural areas. Less than a fifth (19 per cent) of islanders agree that there is enough housing available to meet local demand.
Almost all homes in Scotland can get some broadband access, however the speed and quality is significantly lower in some rural areas.
