UK's most remote inhabited island Fair Isle looking for new nurse to be only medic

The UK’s most remote inhabited island is searching for a nurse to be its only medic.

Fair Isle, a three-by-one-and-a-half-mile island, sits in the Atlantic between Orkney and Shetland.

It’s known for its unspoiled natural beauty, wildlife, bird observatory, and world-famous knitwear.

The “truly welcoming and resilient community” only has about 60 permanent residents.

NHS Shetland said Fair Isle’s current nurse is leaving later this month, and the health board is seeking to replace her as soon as possible.

The nurse would be responsible for the entire island population as well as visitors, and they would be responsible for both providing care in both planned and emergency situations.

As the only resident medic on the island, NHS Shetland said the right person should be able to see and treat patients “independently without regular recourse to a medical practitioner”.

The nurse might also have to provide personal care for islanders in the absence of island-based social care services.

Although support and supervision are available from GPs based at Levenwick on the Shetland mainland, the health board said a “high degree of personal resilience is required to undertake this remote island post”.

“This is a unique opportunity to become a truly integral part of a forward-thinking, determined, resilient and hardworking remote island community,” the job advert said.

On top of the advertised salary of between £41,608 and £50,702, NHS Shetland is offering a “distant island allowance” of £2,482 a year and up to £8,000 in relocation assistance.