NHS Struggles to Find GP for Far North Practice

NHS Highland says it is considering all options after it failed to get any responses to an advert for GPs in North West Sutherland.

The health board took over responsibility for the Durness practice following the retiral of Dr Alan Belbin at the end of June.

Despite a six-week recruitment campaign, there were no applications for the position of a salaried general practitioner.

The board’s plan was the salaried – that is, employed by NHS Highland – GPs would be based in Durness but work across a number of locations, including Kinlochbervie and Scourie.

They would form part of a team which would include nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals and administrative staff, as well as Scottish Ambulance Service and employees, to provide in-hours and out-of-hours care in the area.

The board’s advert said it would be happy to consider any variations in working patters, and applications from newly-qualified or experienced doctors.

The posts would carry a salary of £73,370-£83,617 and ‘Golden Hello’ incentive and relocation packages were available to eligible candidates.

These discussions are being held in the context of wider ongoing talks being held across the north coast on the future of NHS Highland’s services – both health and adult social care – in the area.

This review is predicated on a clear need for changes, not least in view of NHS Highland’s determination to move away from single-handed GP practices, the challenging situation of care-at-home provision in North and West Sutherland and plans to replace the Caladh Sona care home at Talmine by Lairg.