INEQUALITIES in health care are to be tackled in an attempt to make services more accessible to all.

The North Yorkshire Health Authority is investigating to what extent living in remote areas is a disadvantage when it comes to people using their services.

Health chiefs then plan to strengthen the partnership that exists between themselves and local councils and make a consistent effort to address the key areas.

The authority's medical director, Prof Mark Barker, said: "In rural areas these inequalities can be overlooked due to the limited numbers involved and the difficulties in identifying those in greatest need.

"Strategies need to be in place to ensure that the stereotype of the 'rural idyll' doesn't detract from the importance of addressing these needs."

North Yorkshire is one of the most rural areas in the country. Ninety-five per cent of the land area is officially defined as sparse - with between 0.5 and four people per hectare - or super sparse - less than 0.5 per hectare. Among those at risk because of their remoteness are farmers, through their occupational hazards and, particularly in recent years, stress.

Demographic change in rural areas has also led to a disproportionate number of elderly people who are more likely to be dependent on medical services.

Prof Baker says most researchers agree that access is the factor of health care quality most influenced by living in the country.

And he added: "The rural areas of North Yorkshire have high death rates especially among young men from road traffic accidents. This in part may be attributable to the difficulties in gaining access to rural areas by the emergency services, the distance to hospitals and the reliance on cars and their regular use increasing the risk of accidents.