What initiatives are in place to support rural healthcare professionals in accessing training and professional development opportunities.

Healthcare support workers in Scotland, by agreement from their employers, can enrol on the HNC in Healthcare Practice at their local college and can then progress to the nursing degree programme currently provided by the Open University, enabling them to remain in the workforce in their local Board area whilst studying. The Scottish Government provides a salary backfill payment to employers to compensate for time away from the workplace for both the Open University and HNC programmes.NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are also delivering training opportunities for healthcare professionals in rural and island areas. This includes the NES Rural GP Fellowship, which not only supports GPs to develop the skills required to work in rural areas but provides them with direct experience of working in rural and island areas across rural and island Health Boards.Through the Scottish Government funded National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care, 30 practitioners have undertaken the MSc in Rural Advanced Practice in 2023 and 2024, supporting career development, increasing equity in education and supporting the sustainability of primary healthcare services. The Centre will continue to develop new rural specific recognised qualifications to address skills gaps and drive innovation.Furthermore, tailored to meet the current and future needs of NHS Scotland with a focus on rural medicine, healthcare improvement and developing interest in General Practice, ScotGEM offers a unique four-year programme where students are eligible to apply for a Scottish Government funded ‘Return of Service’ bursary of £4,000 per annum which commits them to working for NHS Scotland for the corresponding number of years following graduation. The Scottish Government also pays the tuition fees for eligible students, offering an attractive package for potential applicants.