Clinical Development Fellow

NHS Scotland; Chandigarh; On-site; INR 5,343,000 - 6,869,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Scotland seeks doctors for Caithness General Hospital, a Rural General Hospital, to provide the full spectrum of care in Emergency Medicine, GP, Medicine, Surgery or Anaesthetics. You will work with rapid consultant access and a strong MDT to deliver care close to patients’ homes in a remote setting.

Posts start 4 February or 5 August 2026 for 6 or 12 months, contracted for 48 hours per week. Applicants should have completed UK FY1/FY2 training and at least 2 years in the NHS, with a

Qualifications

• Completed equivalent UK FY1 & FY2 training.
• Must have worked at least 2 years in the UK NHS.

Responsibilities

• Provide initial assessment of patients at Caithness General Hospital with rapid access to consultant support.
• Take a high level of responsibility appropriate to experience while contributing to remote and rural healthcare.

Education

UK FY1/FY2 training

Job description

This post may be of particular interest to doctors considering careers in Emergency Medicine, GP, Medicine, Surgery or Anaesthetics, especially if thinking of working in rural Britain or undertaking humanitarian work overseas.

Working in Caithness General Hospital, one of Scotland's Rural General Hospitals (RGH), you will be exposed to the full spectrum of clinical presentations, usually providing the initial assessment of patients presenting to the hospital. You will be given a high level of responsibility appropriate to your experience, whilst having rapid access to consultant opinion and support. We are remote, have good diagnostic facilities and a strong multidisciplinary team designed to provide care close to the patient’s home. Those requiring specialist or Level 2 critical care are usually transferred, often by air.

Applicants must have completed equivalent UK FY1 & FY2 training. They must have worked at least 2 years in the UK NHS. We are developing a teaching programme based around the GMC Remote and Rural Credential. Whilst Fellows will not be eligible to apply for the credential, we are using the curriculum as a framework to help provide you with the knowledge and skills required of a remote and rural practitioner. You will be supported to undertake quality improvement and personal development projects related to rural healthcare.

Posts are available from 4th February or 5th August 2026 for 6 or 12 months. There may be opportunities to undertake a short exchange with CF/CDFs working in other RGHs. Successful applicants will be contracted for 48 hours per week, which for those successful in a CDF post will include an average of 4 hours per week of protected development time. Post holders will be paid at the ST level appropriate to their previous experience, with an additional banding supplement relevant to the OOH rota.

We are situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty with access to a wide range of outdoor activities. For useful information please see: www.enterprisinghighland.com

Informal enquiries should be made to: Dr John MacLeod, Clinical Lead. [e-mail] Dr Charlie Siderfin, Rural Emergency Physician. [e-mail] Dr Stephen Makin, Consultant Geriatrician. [e-mail]

Closing date: 10th November 2026

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

NHS Highland is geographically the largest of the 14 regional boards of NHS Scotland, covering an area of 12,500 square miles, across Highland and Argyll & Bute.

We employ over 10,700 people, making us one of the biggest employers in the area. As an organisation, we make a very significant contribution to the local economy.

Our staff are also important members of our communities. Our greatest asset is our workforce, and the way we go about our work comes from the values and behaviours we demonstrate on a daily basis. As a board we strive to ensure the environment is conducive to nurturing a positive culture, supported and delivered through our NHS and social care values.

Care and compassion

Dignity and respect

Openness, honesty and responsibility

Quality and teamwork

Applications are welcome from Gaelic speakers. / Tha fàilte air tagraidhean bho luchd‑labhairt na Gàidhlig.