Here, There, and Everywhere’: Enabling Equitable Distribution of Health and Care Workers Across the Urban-Rural Divide: Working for Health 2030 webinar 7

The question of geography often comes up in health service delivery debate. Differences often exist between those living in urban and those living in rural, remote, and underserved settings, with those in the latter often having limited access to health services, increased needs, and consequentially worsened health outcomes. This geographical imbalance is apparent in the workforce too. Health workforce education institutions tend to be clustered around the larger urban centres, which has implications for workforce distribution and rural recruitment and retention in that people tend to work where they have studied and trained, and career opportunities also tend to be greater where specialist centres exist and where populations may be concentrated. 

A key question is therefore how to attract, retain, protect, and safeguard the health and care workforce within rural and remote and underserved settings, while protecting individuals’ right to move and live where they choose. Related to this, is the question of ensuring that the workforce is effectively supported and employed where they are most needed.

This seminar explores how to attract, retain, protect, and safeguard the health and care workforce within rural and remote and underserved settings, while protecting individuals’ right to move and live where they choose. The seventh in the Working for Health 2030 webinar series co-hosted by WHO and NHS England, this seminar will explore: