Our aims
- Represent rural and remote GPs, and promote rural issues inside and outside the College faculties
- Encourage rural GPs to engage with the College
- Advance the College's objectives in rural practice
- Facilitate communication and networking of rural doctors in the UK
- Support the professional development of rural GPs
- Promote remote and rural issues at appropriate levels, engaging with the profession and managers and informing political debate.
Group outputs
Top tips for rural healthcare webinar series
Sign up to attend one or all of our evening webinars hosted by the RCGP Rural Forum providing expert practical advice about working in remote and rural settings.
- Medical Emergency: Is your trolley ready for STAT? Wednesday 27 November, 19:00
- Medical Emergency: STAT: Who’s your emergency back up? Tuesday 10 December, 19:00
Group updates
Chair of the RCGP Rural Forum, June 2024
Dr Emma Watts is Chair of the RCGP Rural Forum. She is a dispensing doctor based in Shere, in the Surrey Hills. The practice covers an area of 50 square miles, with multiple villages, and a population of nearly 10,000 patients. Although geographically not far from London, the practice struggles with similar rural access problems to rural practices elsewhere in the UK. Emma is also an LMC Rep, sitting on the Surrey LMC.
Emma has been working as a rural GP for the past 18 years and is passionate about providing continuity of care and addressing rural inequity. She contributed to the Inquiry into the future of General Practice, which was led by Jeremy Hunt and published last year. The community gynaecology service run by the surgery was featured in the Rural proofing for Health Toolkit (Rural England) as an example of excellence.
Emma is hoping to stimulate more involvement in the Rural Forum for rural GPs. Given that rural patients make up 18% of the UK population, Emma would like to see the College rural proofing all of its policies and will work to increase the profile of rural GPs within the College.
Emma said the following about her role:
I volunteered for the role as Chair of the RCGP Rural Forum because I wanted to try to do my best to help rural GPs who experience the same problems as I do. I really want to ensure that College policy is rural-proofed, to protect rural patients from urban skew. I have found it really positive to form friendships with other rural colleagues who share my passion for rural healthcare, and I now feel I have a greater network of support. I have been surprised at the interest from urban colleagues who just want to know a little more about the differences between urban and rural general practice. Essentially, though we are all time-poor in general practice, I have really enjoyed connecting with others and would encourage other members to get involved.
Dr Emma Watts - Chair
- Dr Christopher Clark - England Representative
- Dr Robert Lambourn - England Representative
- Dr Helen Leach - England Representative
- Dr Miriam Dolan - Northern Ireland Representative
- Dr Rebecca Orr - Northern Ireland and GP Registrars Representative
- Dr Christopher Williams - Scottish Representative
- Dr Sanjeev Maskara - England Representative
- Mrs Jane Randall-Smith - EURIPA Representative
- Vacancy - Wales Representative
Connect with us
If you are interested in joining the Rural Forum or would like more information, please contact us at advocates@rcgp.org.uk, and we will connect you with the appropriate person.
The group is active on the RCGP members' forum, where you can engage in discussions, share knowledge, and stay updated on the latest developments and opportunities within the group. This forum serves as a valuable platform for continuous dialogue and collaboration among members.
Resources
WHO Reference Documents on Remote and Rural Retention Policy for Health Workers:
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