Rural Oxfordshire faces unique public health challenges, report finds

Summarised from BBC Oxford's report · Updated 26 Oct, 06:38 · Archive

Rural areas in Oxfordshire face poor transport, high living costs and lack of local services, affecting public health.

A report by Oxfordshire County Council has highlighted unique public health challenges in rural towns and villages. The study, carried out by Healthwatch Oxfordshire and Community First Oxfordshire, gathered data and stories from more than 800 people across the county. Poor transport connections, high living costs and a lack of local services were identified as key issues, with older people generally worse affected.

In Faringdon, a market town in the county, specific challenges affect younger people. The report found the highest level of emergency hospital admissions for people aged 15 to 24, alongside above-average rates of childhood obesity and self-harm. The town's Pump House Project provides community support including a food bank, coffee mornings and parkour sessions for children. The report emphasises the role of community and voluntary groups in filling gaps in public services and will inform how system partners better support rural communities.

Read the report

• Report highlights rural public health inequalitiesThe market town of Faringdon is one of a number of areas covered in the Oxfordshire report.BBC Oxford · 26 Oct, 06:17

In this story: Oxfordshire County Council · Healthwatch Oxfordshire · Community First Oxfordshire · Faringdon · The Pump House Project · Bethia Thomas

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