Perceptions of Quality: The Rural Dimension

Rural populations have traditionally received less attention in Britain than their urban counterparts, and little research into their problems has been undertaken. Identifies and discusses potential problems in the provision of quality health care in rural areas, based on interviews with five senior NHS managers and supported by information from relevant published literature. Identifies trade‐offs between the various dimensions of quality which can occur in rural areas, and argues that they should be based on objective information and be undertaken explicitly.