Access and issues of equity in remote/rural areas

This article reports on a workshop in which tire major focus was a review of tire barriers that prevent access to the array of community-based services available to the rural elderly. The demographics of the elderly were outlined and key components of tire service system described. Attention was given to access hospital-based care, tire closing of hospitals and tire reasons for bypassing rural hospitals for those in large towns or cities. Special emphasis also was given to mental health services and their uneven accessibility. A review of the policy implications closed the workshop.