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NHS Western Isles launches drive to recruit a new team of Medics 

Western Isles NHS Board is taking steps to promote the benefits of living and working in Outer Hebrides, in its new recruitment drive for senior medics.  

Like other Health Boards and Trusts across the UK, NHS Western Isles has faced increasing challenges in recruitment across a wide range of staff groups, with the recruitment of medical consultants proving to be particularly difficult. Remote and rural island Health Boards, including the Western Isles, are competing for staff with major urban Boards, which often appear to be more appealing to potential applicants. However, in its current campaign to recruit nine new consultants, including an Anaesthetist, two Physicians, three Surgeons, one Psychiatrist and two Paediatricians, NHS Western Isles is highlighting why a move to the Outer Hebrides is ‘The Right Choice’ for individuals who want to escape the rat race for a healthier work life balance and embrace a wide range of development opportunities for improved job satisfaction.   

Around half of Western Isles Health Board’s consultant posts are currently vacant or filled by temporary staff. The opportunity to become part of the NHS Board’s family of consultants is currently being promoted, with the additional benefit of an £8,000 payment to support individuals to relocate, plus an annual Distant Islands Allowance payment.   

NHS Western Isles Medical Director, Dr Frank McAuley, said: “It is no secret that Health Boards across Scotland are facing increasing and significant recruitment challenges. In the Western Isles, we want to turn that challenge into an opportunity and use it to tell the story about what an incredible and unique opportunity exists by becoming part of a new team of consultants in these magnificent islands. We are happy to provide advice and support for anyone who wishes to visit beforehand or answer questions about any of the posts or islands. Our view is that working as a consultant in the largest of Scotland’s islands offers a unique opportunity to combine modern and progressive clinical practice with a lifestyle that is difficult to match.”  

Known as Scotland’s Atlantic Islands, the Western Isles are steeped in history and culture, with stunning landscapes, spectacular coastlines, a strong sense of community and identity, and renowned Hebridean hospitality. 

Whilst the stunning landscapes and famous sparkling beaches are undoubtedly strong selling points, NHS Western Isles wants to take a step back from the tourist draws and promote the Western Isles as a place to live and work, not just to visit.   

For those considering a move, it’s important that they are aware that a move to an island does not mean that they are not cut off from the wider mainland (however the commute to work will be stress-free). There are good transportation links with the mainland, with daily ferries as well as daily links from Stornoway to Glasgow and Edinburgh just an hour away by air. The equally important links to peer support are also well established and are pivotal to ensuring clinical staff feel supported and always have access to a second opinion. 

The Western Isles also have excellent sports facilities, with sports centres across the islands, and an enviable local authority membership scheme for residents. Stornoway boasts a state of the art sports facility with a fully equipped gym, spa, dance studio, climbing wall and swimming pool; whilst the smaller facility in the North-West of Lewis in Ness also offers the additional features of a ten-pin bowling facility and soft play area for kids.  

Outdoors, there are numerous sporting opportunities, from water sports such as kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding; to climbing, excellent walks, golf, rugby, bowling and football to name a few. Add to that the multi-arts venue on the Stornoway seafront (with cinema, theatre, art gallery and concert hall) and the numerous clubs and opportunities for young people, including arts, drama, dance, karate, scouting, kickboxing, and gymnastics, together with a high quality education, and you have an ideal place to raise a family.  

Contrary to misconceptions about a small and basic health system, NHS Western Isles regularly leads the way in healthcare innovation and taking the use of technology to advanced levels to improve care and treatment for residents in a remote island location. Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway is a well equipped 97-bed Rural General Hospital Plus, which deals with all types of emergencies, and with a wide range of specialist services provided on-island. Our staff and teams, many of which are award-winning for their innovation and developments, are truly second to none and are given the freedom by NHS Western Isles to innovate and use creative solutions to address the challenges of providing care on an island.  

Dr McAuley continued: “What is particularly exciting in relation to this current recruitment drive, is that applicants will have the opportunity to become part of the development of a new team and will play key roles in shaping services, whilst also benefiting from the support to develop skills and confidence from staff currently in place. The remote island location provides a very special extra sense of reward and job satisfaction. We are keen to be as self sufficient as we can safely be, to provide what services we can on-island for our local population. As a current example, we are starting the process of planning for a new MRI scanner to be based in Stornoway in the near future. This is down to the commitment of the staff we have, who are given the confidence and opportunity to get involved in developing and shaping service improvements.”  

Whilst NHS Western Isles is under no illusion that it faces an uphill challenge in recruiting a new team of consultants, the Board is clear that the Western Isles and a career with the local NHS has a lot of offer. 

“It’s important that we clarify misconceptions about the Western Isles, said Dr McAuley. “Yes, we’re remote, but we’re accessible and we have great networks. Yes, we have smaller teams, but our teams are supportive, motivated and empowered to make a difference. Yes, we’re small, but we’re mighty. Yes, there are limitations in terms of what we can do on-island, but we’re ambitious, innovative, creative and forward thinking, which leads to a high sense of job satisfaction.  

“Sure, we have unrivalled beaches and landscapes to offer, but we have so much more of a story to tell, and so many more reasons to make this a place to live and work, not just to visit.” 

The posts are currently advertised on the NHS Western Isles website at www.wihb.scot.nhs.uk/vacancies/ and the vacancies close on August 25 2023.