A national conference on innovative solutions to rural healthcare is taking place today (May 9), in the Athlone Springs Hotel, Athlone. 

The event aims to explore forward-thinking strategies to overcome the ever-growing challenges in rural healthcare delivery.

The event is hosted by Irish Rural Link (IRL), the national network representing the interest of rural communities.

Throughout the conference, there will be speeches, panel discussions, and interactive table discussions focused on the use of telemedicine and technology in delivery healthcare, the role of community health and social care providers, and better integration and collaboration of all stakeholders.

The CEO of IRL, Seamus Boland said: "Access to healthcare, including GP services, dental care, mental health support, and other essential services, is becoming increasingly challenging in rural areas.

"As demand continues to grow, driven by an ageing and expanding population, we must explore new approaches and reimagine how healthcare is delivered in rural communities.

"This includes integrating innovative technologies while ensuring that care remains inclusive and accessible to everyone in society," Boland added.

The keynote speaker at the conference is University of Galway Prof. Robert Scully, Ireland’s first established professor of rural and remote medicine.

A panel discussion will follow the keynote speech will will include; Deputy Martin Daly, Dr. Deirdre Forde, Carmen Bryce, and Vicky Ward.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network and share ideas and put forward solutions to bridge healthcare gaps in underserved communities.

Prof. Scully said: "Rural Healthcare is a complex area that requires multi-agency partnerships and collaboration to implement innovative solutions.

"In Ireland a significant challenge for rural healthcare is the recruitment and retention of suitably trained medical staff.

 "To address this, we need to fundamentally rethink our approach, and adopt innovative approaches to ensure communities receive the healthcare they deserve," he added.