The South West has a problem:
Futures Forum: The ten local authorities with the highest percentage of the population over 65 are on the coast, with five being in the South West region. Within 20 years it is estimated that 40 per cent of the population of west England will be over 65.
The Rural Services Network quotes councillors in the region warning of the demographic trends:
17.09.2018
RURAL COMMUNITIES IN DANGER
Experts have warned that rural communities are ‘in danger of dying out’ unless they are given more help to cope with ageing populations, according to an article by iNews.
Trudi Grant, director of public health at Somerset County Council - an area with a median age of 53 compared with the UK average of 39 – highlighted the danger of ‘very unsustainable communities’ in which the population is dominated by those not of working age.
Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rural Health and Social Care, was quoted saying that a ‘one size fits all system’ for healthcare is better suited to urban communities.
She said that in rural areas more specialist doctors and fewer general consultants are needed. She added that many nurses and medics ‘will have spent their training in urban areas so we need more training and experience taking place in rural areas,’.
Rural communities in danger - Rural Services Network
With the full piece from the i newspaper here:
Rural communities 'could die out by 2050', public health experts warn - i newspaper
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