10m live in ‘healthcare deserts’

HUGE swathes of rural Britain are ‘healthcare deserts’ where millions struggle to access GP appointments and hospital treatment, nurses have warned.

The ten million people who live in the English countryside are served by grossly inadequate healthcare, they say, adding that with many facilities closing, the situation is getting worse.

While other parts of the NHS are turning to online systems and app-based healthcare, patchy mobile service and substandard broadband means this is a pipedream in many rural areas.

The Royal College of Nursing’s annual congress in Liverpool heard yesterday that ambulances can take nearly an hour to reach patients with life-threatening conditions.

Gwen Vardigans, from North Yorkshire, said: ‘Most city dwellers have a romantic view of country living. The reality for rural residents is very different if you require healthcare.’