The Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, visited Lincolnshire last week as part of a national public health tour to understand how health and care services are delivered in rural and market town settings.
Among those who met Professor Whitty were Mark Turton from LinCA, Derek Ward, Vicki Pruteanu and David Clark from Lincolnshire County Council, and Alice O’Hare and Jessy Romy from Tanglewood Care Home.
The visit was organised by the Health Protection Team at Lincolnshire County Council as part of a broader programme across the county. Professor Whitty visited Tanglewood Care Home in Horncastle and other areas in Lincolnshire to discuss the specific challenges faced by rural and market towns in delivering high‑quality health and social care services.
During a round‑table discussion several critical issues affecting rural care provision were explored, including infection prevention and control, partnership working, rural delivery challenges and the unique barriers faced in rural and coastal communities, health inequalities and deprivation, and system resilience and preparedness.
LinCA and partners outlined how the local workforce consistently rises to national and local challenges, maintaining quality care through proactive management, strong leadership and seasonal preparedness measures designed to protect residents during periods of heightened infection risk.
The visit provided an important opportunity to showcase Lincolnshire’s collaborative approach to health protection and to ensure that the voice of rural care providers is heard at a national level.
LinCA’s involvement reinforced the crucial role the association plays in representing the care sector, supporting best practice and advocating for policies that reflect the realities of delivering care in rural communities.
