Remote and Rural GP (Westray)

NHS Scotland; Quoyloo; Remote; GBP 104,000 - 119,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation provided

Job summary

NHS Scotland’s Orcades Practice – Westray branch in Orkney is seeking a GP to join a small, remote island team. The role is single-handed within a cohesive group of GPs and nurses, with 24/7 on-call duties supported by a community nurse.

The post offers a salary range of £104,253 to £119,198 plus a 45% enhancement for 24/7 cover and Distant Islands Allowance pro rata. Accommodation is provided, with 3‑week rotation blocks and opportunities for study and annual leave.

Responsibilities

• Provide GP services in a single-handed island practice within a wider team of GPs and nurses.
• Work in rotation, usually for 3 weeks at a time, and be on call 24/7 with support from a community nurse.
• Provide routine visiting services to support neighbouring islands as needed.

Job description

Remote and Rural Island GP

Orcades Practice – Westray branch

Island of Westray

Primary Care Department

18 weeks plus study and annual leave (18 weeks plus study and annual leave (equates to 21.18 weeks)

Salary £104,253 - £119,198 (dependent on experience) plus 45% enhancement for 24/7 cover plus Distant Islands Allowance pro rata

Permanent

Be a single-handed GP in a wider supportive team of GPs and Nurses

Be an important part of a small island community

The surgery on the island of Westray are looking for a GP to complete their “small but perfectly formed” team. As a part-time GP you will have the advantages of working in one of the remote cohesive practices with more time for your patients, seeing them in the context of their lives and working in bite-sized chunks surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife. We work in rotation, usually for 3 weeks at a time, and are on call 24/7, with support from a community nurse.

Westray, with a population of approximately 550, is a branch of the Orcades Practice which consists of six single-handed island practices with GPs and nurses providing 24/7 healthcare to the smaller islands of Orkney. Weekly videoconferences enable clinicians to share knowledge and experience to overcome professional isolation and provide strong peer support. The GP will also provide a routine visiting service to support the Nurse Practitioner led service on the neighbouring island of Papa Westray, with a population of approximately 95. Rotational working allows practitioners to live on island, elsewhere in the UK or even internationally. The associated blocks of time off allow practitioners to not only work elsewhere but even pursue specialist professional interests where these pursuits are not achievable alongside a traditional 9-5 role. The best of both worlds?

Spice up your regular GP skills with the challenges of pre-hospital emergency care whilst waiting for helicopter evacuation. Emergency care training with standardised equipment and protocols is provided.

The post will appeal to an experienced GP who will relish the opportunity of providing holistic care in a remote but supported environment. Study and annual leave allocations are built in to allow you to acquire and maintain the skills needed. Accommodation is provided.

Rise to the challenge and enjoy the opportunity, Orkney offers unique wildlife, amazing scenery, and real opportunity to experience a wide range of cultural and sporting activities. There is something for everyone; state-of-the-art leisure facilities, various clubs and societies, and an excellent education system creates our strong community spirit. To find out more about living and working on the Islands of Orkney go to: https://youtu.be/AD24d9JJLmI