Commenting on the APPG Rural Health and Care Inquiry Overview, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:

"We welcome this report, which highlights the importance of understanding the distinct needs of rural areas, and ensuring structural, operational and financial challenges are taken into account in regulatory frameworks.

"This report reflects the complexity and diversity of the communities the trust sector serves, with rural areas facing unique challenges and opportunities, and requiring unique solutions.

"Delivering care across geographically dispersed communities is challenging for trusts across all sectors: whether large acute hospitals with isolated sites serving rural communities, ambulance trusts with large distances to cover or community and mental health trusts with a number of smaller settings based in rural areas.

"Workforce challenges are often significant, with recruitment and retention issues and a more mobile workforce. However, trusts also tell us that staff can be drawn to the supportive culture of working within smaller teams – and to the benefits of living in more rural locations themselves.

"Health inequalities are a priority focus for trusts, and a 'one-size fits all' approach is not appropriate. This report highlights the unique factors impacting health outcomes in rural, remote and coastal communities, and the health inequalities challenge facing these communities differs from the challenge faced by more urban populations. Efforts to address health inequalities must take into account these differences in context.

"Trusts in rural and coastal areas will continue to work hard to understand the inequalities facing their communities, and address them with their system partners. They play a crucial role in contributing to care pathways which meet the needs of their populations."