Whether it has carried out any modelling on the potential long-term demographic impact of poor access to healthcare services in rural areas…

The Scottish Government has not carried out modelling of this type.The Scottish Government appreciates the unique challenges faced by remote, rural and island communities across the country. As such, a Task and Finish Group focussing on supporting sustainability of health services across Scotland has been created. Utilising a population-based planning approach, the Group aims to improve access to safe, quality healthcare for our population.Working with stakeholders across the Remote, Rural and Island landscape, this Group will determine a framework for a sustainable model of care in these areas, acknowledging the unique challenges faced by patients and Health Boards within these regions.Guided by the eighty-three recommendations of the 2008 Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare Report, and aligning to the principles of the National Clinical Strategy and forthcoming National Clinical Framework, the Group will develop a sustainable operating model for the provision of high-quality, efficient healthcare services, offering parity of care across these communities.Over the last two months, the Group has facilitated two workshops with a variety of key Remote, Rural and Island stakeholders, including healthcare and policy professionals. Through examination of current ways of working, the Group has identified a number of areas where improvements to service delivery may be possible.This work forms the basis of the Group’s Remote, Rural and Islands Action Plan, which will be further developed and implemented over the coming months.