We've been investigating whether the benefits from increased expenditure and investment in the NHS have reached people in rural England in an equitable way, in proportion to their needs and expectations.

By 2007/08 annual expenditure for the NHS will have risen to around £92.1 billion - around twice the 2000/01 level.

We undertook a broad review of the NHS Ten Year plan, to demonstrate where policies and delivery are working well and where further work is needed. We also looked, in more detail, at two areas that may increase health inequalities in rural areas:

• Are England’s rural communities benefiting from the increased expenditure on health services under the NHS Ten Year Plan?

• Out of hours GP services in rural areas

• Access to dental services in rural areas