Rural Health Week launched in Hywel Dda area
Hywel Dda Health Board’s challenges of providing for a rural and ageing population are being reflected by Rural Health Week 2012. Organised by the Institute of Rural Health (IRH), Rural Health Week runs until September 29 and is designed to raise the profile of rural health issues locally, regionally and nationally. The focus this year is on ‘Developing Rural Resilience’ and looks at the ‘crisis and opportunity’ of changing rural populations, exploring how to maximise the benefits to communities and their older residents and highlight innovative responses to the challenges. Hywel Dda Health Board’s Your Health Your Future – Consulting our Communities outlines how currently 70% of patients in a hospital beds in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are over aged 75 and that 80% of its hospital resources is spent on 20% of patients. The health board is currently in a 12 week consultation process outlining how it will address these and other challenges faced by the NHS. Kathryn Da...