The National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care
In 2026, the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care (the National Centre) will evolve to deliver a refreshed rural and islands programme to achieve sustainable improvements for the rural and island health and social care workforce.
Committed to supporting rural and island workforces and their communities, the Scottish Government is investing in Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland) to design a new model of delivery.
This will build on the National Centre’s achievements, aligns to sub-national planning activity, and delivers on the priorities of the new government.
Next steps
Over the summer, PSD Scotland will work closely with stakeholders across rural and island areas to co-design this enhanced programme. Drawing on the evaluation of the National Centre’s work, the new approach will:
- build capacity within local systems
- strengthen collaboration
- improve workforce competence and resilience
- support the sustainability and quality of local services
A new approach
This refreshed model will be nationally driven and locally delivered, ensuring that rural and island communities benefit from targeted support in key areas.
This will include recruitment and retention, education and training, research and evaluation, and workforce and leadership development.
See how the programme is taking shape
Explore how the programme is developing and how you can contribute to the next phase of work
