Health / Nurse wanted for one of Shetland’s most remote islands
FOULA, which lies 16 miles west of mainland Shetland, needs a full-time district nurse.
NHS Shetland is looking for someone who can “deliver truly person-centred care and support to individuals across the life span”.
The salary will range from £37,831 to £46,100 as well as distant islands allowance and possible relocation assistance.
Applications are open now and close on 23 June.
The island currently has 35 permanent residents. It can be accessed via the ferry from Walls, which takes about two hours, or a 15-minute flight from Tingwall.
“This is a unique opportunity to become a truly integral part of a forward-thinking, determined, resilient and hardworking remote island community, with a thriving primary school,” the job description states.
The new nurse shall be the first point of contact on the isle and is expected to deal with emergencies alongside the Walls GP and ambulance service.
Islander Magnus Gear said Foula had been served well by the previous nurse and is now looking forward to welcoming a new resident.
“It is vital for us to have nurse in place,” he said. “We are very lucky with Oscar Charlie [the coastguard search and rescue helicopter] and the other emergency services that will respond to us, but in health care you have a limited time to have successful intervention so to have a nurse based here is of huge reassurance to the permanent population and also to visitors.”
Gear said Foula was now boasting much improved connectivity with superfast internet speeds.
He added: “The post advertised is not just for planned and emergency health care in Foula, which is important to the local population, but NHS Shetland also hopes to use the successful applicant’s skills on a remote working basis.”
Liz Peterson, a councillor for Shetland West, said: “This is an exciting and permanent job opportunity to live and work on a beautiful remote island, with resilient and friendly people, within a rural crofting community.
“This job provides vital care for the islanders, and is a unique post which ensures the Foula folk are able to be looked after, whilst continuing to live on their isle of unspoilt beauty.”
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