Providing healthcare for people in rural areas is a priority for Scotland. The COVID-19 pandemic has created further disruption to the already varied delivery of healthcare in rural areas. This project aims to explore the public’s perspectives on accessing/receiving healthcare in rural areas across Scotland and how recent changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic are changing the experience of rural healthcare. Considering areas such as eHealth technologies, access to face-to-face appointments and ongoing care, this research will use focus groups and interviews to better understand the experiences, differences and changes to medical care for people living in rural areas of Scotland, with a focus on rural and remote Grampian. The study is funded by NHS Grampian.
We are looking to collect insights on people’s experiences through an online blog, focus groups, and interviews.
We’d like to know, for example:
- What issues do we need to be aware of?
- What does rural mean to you?
- What are barriers to healthcare in rural places?
- How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed access to healthcare for you?
This research was completed in 2022 and the team are currently writing up the research for reporting and publication. Dr Maclaren presented initial findings from the work at the 2022 NHS Grampian R&D Conference where he was awarded the Delegates’ Prize.
Contacts
- Andrew Maclaren; andrew.maclaren@abdn.ac.uk
Status
CompletedPublications
Maclaren, A, Locock, L, Skea, Z, Skatun, D & Wilson, P 2024, 'Rurality, healthcare and crises: investigating experiences, differences, and changes to medical care for people living in rural areas', Health & Place, vol. 87, 103217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103217