Health / Vacant Lerwick GP post advertised nine times with no success
• NHS Shetland says GP recruitment remains difficult • MSP Beatrice Wishart calls for Scottish Government help to make working in the isles more attractive
NHS SHETLAND has moved to reassure the community that it does all it can to fill vacant GP posts across the isles.
The health board’s primary care manager Lisa Watt said recruitment of GPs remained difficult across Scotland and added that Shetland is no different in this regard.
The health official was responding to data released in a freedom of information (FOI) request by the local Liberal Democrats which revealed that one vacant GP post at the Lerwick surgery has been advertised nine times but only received four applications in total.
NHS Shetland said although there had been applications to this particular full-time vacancy, all applicants were ineligible as they were not on the GMC [General Medical Council] register.
Five other GP posts across the health board are currently vacant while only two posts are being re-advertised, the Lerwick post nine times and another post three times with no applications.
Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart said the recruitment difficulties are contributing to the delays people are experiencing when trying to get an appointment at Lerwick Health Centre.
She said: “We should look at the wider issues limiting the attraction of working in the isles, such as housing whether for local people or for anyone looking to move here.
“The Scottish Government must work with communities so that infrastructure such as housing is available in island and rural areas, and for Shetland a new hospital.”
Ward said the local health board was working across a range of initiatives to get GP vacancies filled.
“We continue to support GP training in Shetland, along with working alongside our secondary care colleagues to provide placements for medical students from Aberdeen University,” she said.
“We offer a range of options within our contracts and have recently successfully recruited to 48 weeks cover a year in Yell through a rotational model.
“We will continue to advertise the post in Lerwick health centre, and in the meantime the vacancy is covered primarily by GP bank staff and GPs from the GP Joy scheme.”
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