Latest news with #FairIsle
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
The remote UK island looking for a new nurse
NHS Shetland is seeking a new nurse for Fair Isle, the UK 's most remote inhabited island, as the current nurse is due to leave later this month. The successful candidate will be the sole medical professional for the island's approximately 50 residents, providing comprehensive care from newborns to the elderly. The role demands a high degree of personal resilience due to the island's isolation, weather-dependent transport, and the need to provide care without local social care provision. The full-time position offers a salary range of £41,608 to £50,702, a distant island allowance, and relocation assistance, with a two-bedroom house available to rent. Fair Isle residents have expressed concern about the vacancy, emphasising the unique challenge and rewarding opportunity for an experienced and confident clinician.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Nurse needed for UK's most remote inhabited island with just 50 residents
The most remote inhabited island of the UK is searching for a new nurse – the only medical expert there. The current nurse on Fair Isle, which has around 50 residents, is leaving later this month, and NHS Shetland is advertising for a replacement. 'A high degree of personal resilience is required to undertake this remote island post,' the advert warns. Fair Isle, which is halfway between the Shetland mainland and Orkney, is only three miles long and a mile-and-a-half wide, with just one shop but no pubs. Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, Fair Isle is known for its 'amazing resident and migratory birdlife, dramatic landscapes and equally dramatic weather, as well as world-famous knitwear'. A two-bedroom traditional stone-build house is available for the new nurse to rent, and ferries and planes to and from the mainland are both weather-dependent, the job advert says. Four years ago, Fair Isle advertised for a headteacher for its primary school, which had just three pupils. The full-time post has a salary range of £41,608 - £50,702, with a 'distant island allowance' of £2,482. A relocation assistance of up to £8,000 is also available, the advert shows. The successful candidate will be responsible for the entire population, from newborns to people up to the age of 90, and may have to provide some personal care as there is no island-based social care provision. NHS Shetland describes the role as a 'unique opportunity to become a truly integral part of a forward-thinking, determined, resilient and hardworking remote island community'. The Sumburgh Coastguard helicopter serves as the island's ambulance, but the nurse is the only medical professional on Fair Isle. Clinical support and supervision is available from the community nursing team and GPs at Levenwick on the mainland. Applications are open until the end of the month. One island resident, Eileen Thomson, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland: 'I think it could be the most amazing opportunity for the right kind of person. 'It's always a bit of a concern not having somebody here as we're the remotest inhabited island in the country,' she said. "We're lucky we've had some amazing nurses over the last few years, we always love to welcome new people into the community.' She said island life did not suit everyone. 'We're in the far north, the weather isn't that great in the winter, transport isn't that easy, and you do have to be a really confident clinician. You are the person looking after everything, you are the man on the ground, so to speak. 'For someone who's experienced, for someone who is looking for a challenge - but a wonderful challenge - I think it could really be the perfect role.' Fair Isle has more puffins than people, although numbers of the black-and-white birds have fallen. The latest estimate was between 10,000 and 20,000.
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Fair Isle: UK's most remote inhabited island seeks new nurse
The UK's most remote inhabited island is looking for a new Isle is located halfway between the Northern Isles of Orkney and island's current nurse is leaving later this Shetland is now advertising for the permanent job to replace her, describing it as "a unique opportunity to become an integral part of island life". Fair Isle - which is home to about 50 people - is famed for its knitwear as well as its wildlife and bird is just three miles long (4.8km) and one-and-a-half miles successful candidate will be responsible for the entire population, as well as any visiting tourists. One of those current Fair Isle residents, Eileen Thomson, believes it could be a great move for someone."I think it could be the most amazing opportunity for the right kind of person coming to Fair Isle," she told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland said the outgoing nurse leaves later this week, and there would be cover in the interim period. "It's always a bit of a concern not having somebody here as we're the remotest inhabited island in the country," she said. She said the new nurse would be looking after people with age ranges from less than a year old up to almost 90."You might be dealing with any kind of illness," Eileen Thomson said. "There will be quieter times and there will be really busy times, it's having someone who loves to have a bit of variety in their job. "You would be the only person on the island as a medical professional,. We're supported by a doctor's surgery on the mainland of Shetland."The Coastguard rescue helicopter based in Sumburgh doubles up as the island's ambulance, but the nurse is the one people go to for everything else."We're lucky we've had some amazing nurses over the last few years, we always love to welcome new people into the community." Looking for a challenge "The most beautiful little island," is how she describes Fair Isle, which she said was well-known for nature and being one of the best places to spot wildlife."Of course we're famous for our knitwear as well, so anyone with that kind of interest would find an amazing home here."But what we like to be known for is that we're a really strong little community. We might be only 50 folk, but we are an incredibly strong, hard-working community. We're a very sociable bunch as well."She said island life did not suit everyone and had challenges as well."We're in the far north, the weather isn't that great in the winter, transport isn't that easy, and you do have to be a really confident clinician. You are the person looking after everything, you are the man on the ground so to speak. "For someone who's experienced, for someone who is looking for a challenge - but a wonderful challenge - I think it could really be the perfect role."Applications will close at the end of this month.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Isle do it! Health chiefs are offering nurses £60,000 to work on the UK's most remote island, famed for its stunning scenery and 50 residents
Health chiefs are attempting to lure nurses to work on the UK's most remote island—with the promise of up to £50,000. In an effort to recruit a nurse to the idyllic Scottish spot of Fair Isle, the successful candidate will also be offered £10,000 worth of allowances and a car. NHS Shetland bosses have aimed the tempting deal at a full-time resident nurse who wants to be part of an island with a 'truly welcoming atmosphere' and 'resilient community'. Fair Isle, which measures just three miles long by one-and-a-half miles wide, lies halfway between Shetland and Orkney Islands and boasts a population of just 50 residents. The successful applicant will be expected to provide personal care in the absence of any social care provision on the island. Under the lucrative offer, the nurse will be paid between £41,608 and £50,702. Health officials are also offering an annual 'distant island allowance' of £2,482 per year, as well as up to £8,000 to relocation expenses. A car will be provided and a two-bedroom traditional stone-built house will also be available for the nurse to rent. NHS Shetland, which is spearheading the recruitment drive, said: 'Fair Isle is a wonderful place to live and work, offering low pollution, low crime, excellent schools, great leisure facilities, unique wildlife and amazing scenery, whilst still only a short flight away from the UK mainland. One resident, Eileen Thomson, grew up on Fair Isle, and moved back to the island from Edinburgh with her young family eight years ago. 'On Fair Isle, you get to be so much more of a nurse than you would anywhere else,' she said. 'On the mainland, you might see a patient for five minutes, and not see them again for months, or even ever. 'But here, the nurse gets to really look after people. 'You get that continuity of care living and working alongside people, and you get that chance to look after your flock—it's a wonderful opportunity for someone.' A key quality to living and working on the island, she said, was being able to throw yourself into its 'vibrant' community. 'We need people who are going to work hard and get on,' she said. 'If anyone wants solitude and isolation, they're better off living in a city. 'On Fair Isle, we need people to chip in, who can help out, and who want to be sociable, because that's how we all thrive.' The island, owned by the National Trust for Scotland since 1954, has had a resident nurse since 1903. Until then, those on Fair Isle had to rely on a community medicine chest. In June, a £5.6 million contract was awarded to a Yorkshire firm to build a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle, expected to come into service next year. It comes as the future of nursing in the UK and in the NHS has been under the spotlight for the last two years. Historic strike action has already seen NHS nurses take to the picket lines in England in a dispute over pay. The campaign saw claims that NHS nurses were leaving the profession for less demanding roles in supermarkets for equal or better pay than what they received in the health service. While the dispute has been formally resolved after an RCN ballot to continue the action failed, union officials have continually hinted that NHS nurses pay is still not enough to encourage people to join the profession and further action will be considered. In March, an alarming investigation also revealed that thousands of patients were being put at risk of harm by a severe shortage of NHS nurses. At least a third of hospitals routinely have dangerously large gaps in their rotas, with baby and critical care units worst hit, the probe by Channel 4 found.
The Sun
09-08-2025
- The Sun
UK's most remote inhabited island with rare birdlife and the wreckage of a Spanish Armada ship
THE UK's most remote island measures just five kilometres by three kilometres - yet has a lot to boast about. The southernmost of the Shetland Islands, Fair Isle, is home to only 60 people - most of whom are located at the south end of the island. 5 5 For those heading to the island, it is home to a large variety of different birdlife including Kittiwakes, Puffins and Gannets. In fact, over 350 bird species have been recorded on the island. Having only recently opened in May, The Fair Isle Bird Observatory offers visitors the chance to look out for many of the rare species or experience a guided tour. From 2026, you can even stay in the Observatory. Alongside the bird life, there is a wealth of other fauna and flora to see across the island, making it the perfect spot for a hike. There are a number of coastal walks or you could follow the road up to the North Haven and North Lighthouse. And if you want to learn about the island's history, head to the South Lighthouse for a tour arranged through the Fair Isle Lighthouse Society. The island is also famous for Fair Isle knitting - a traditional style of knitting with patterns using two colours per row. The creative knitwear suddenly rose in popularity after the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) wore Fair Isle jumpers in 1921. Whilst much of today's knitted creations do not follow the original process, some of the island's craftspeople do still create garments using the traditional pattern. Rather unusually, Fair Isle also has a long history of shipwrecks with some dating back to the Viking period. One of the most famous shipwrecks is the Spanish Armada ship El Gran Grifón. The 650-ton 38-gun ship sank on September 27, 1588 and for many years remained untouched. However, over the years many of the ship's parts and items were excavated and taken, with some brought to Lerwick, where they can be seen at the Shetland Museum. 5 5 The island can be reached from Mainland, Shetland's main island, either by sea or by flying. If travelling by sea, the Good Shepherd IV ferry carries 12 people and the journey takes around two-and-a-half hours. Alternatively, you can catch a 25-minute flight from Tingwall airport. There are flights to the island each day, providing the weather isn't too windy. Elsewhere, the UK's 'happiest islands' have white sand beaches and attractions older than the Egyptian pyramids. Plus, five islands off the coast of the UK you can visit without needing your passport.
