Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
28 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Experience
Experience of remote and rural practice
- Qualifications
MBChB (or equivalent primary medical degree)
- Qualifications
MB ChB
- Personal Qualities
Self-reliant and highly motivated
- Personal Qualities
Ability, drive and commitment to work as part of a team, sometimes at a distance
- Personal Qualities
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and recognise own limitations and the requirement for appropriate referral
- Personal Qualities
Ability to quickly assess and respond to patient and timely needs in emergency situations
- Personal Qualities
Work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way.
- Skills and Abilities
Ability to work as part of the team but also with capabilities to work under own direction
- Skills and Abilities
Self-motivated, able to work without supervision, using own initiative to complete tasks.
- Skills and Abilities
Expert communicator, able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Skills and Abilities
Well-developed influencing skills combined with a facilitative and supportive style of working.
- Continuing Professional Development
Recent evidence of continued academic and professional development
- Professional Registration and Eligibility
Full Registration with GMC
- Professional Registration and Eligibility
Registered with a license to practice at the point of taking up the post.
- Professional Registration and Eligibility
Eligible for entry onto the GMC GP Register/NHS Western Isles performers list (GP CCT or GP VTS PMETB or Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice Certificate of prescribed experience/Certificate of equivalent experience).
- Professional Registration and Eligibility
Must be included on NHS Western Isles Performers list and registered with the GMC.
- Professional Registration and Eligibility
Must be a member of a recognised medical defence society.
- Professional Registration and Eligibility
The successful applicant will be required to register with the PVG Scheme (Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme).
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Recognise and work within own competence and the professional code of conduct for doctors as set out by the GMC
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Communicate difficult and often unpleasant or sensitive messages to patients and families in a compassionate and sensitive manner
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Deliver care to local and national standards including SIGN Guidelines, NHS Highland Formulary, evidence-based care
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Participate in quality improvement initiatives, Scottish Patient Safety Programme – Primary Care initiatives, Significant Event Analysis, peer review and review of complaints and the Quality Standards
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Be aware of statutory procedures, local guidance and referral criteria regarding protection of children and vulnerable adults. Follow the guidance and policies and take action in an appropriate manner.
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Apply infection control measures according to local and national guidelines.
- Governance, Communication and Professional Practice
Participate in the annual Appraisal and revalidation process.
Desirable
8 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Experience in remote in rural practice from a community hospital.
- Experience
Emergency Medicine
- Experience
Community hospital inpatient experience
- Clinical Knowledge and Certifications
ALS
- Clinical Knowledge and Certifications
NLS
- Clinical Knowledge and Certifications
ATLS
- Clinical Knowledge and Certifications
EPLS or APLS
- Clinical Knowledge and Certifications
ALSO
Job details
- Job reference: 258860
- Salary: Salaried GP (£77,160 - £115,167)
- Job closing date: 06/10/2026
- Job Type: Medical and Dental
- Location: St Brendans Hospital
- Employment type: Fixed-term
- Hours Per Week: 40
- Job posted date: 08/09/2026
- Employer (NHS Board): NHS Western Isles
- Department: Medical Staffing
Rural Acute GP – BARRA AND VATERSAY
GP DOCTOR GRADE
£79,861 to £119,198 plus 40% enhancement
Plus Distant Island Allowance £1,461 per annum
41 days Annual Leave per annum
Fixed Term Post for 12 months
The Isles of Barra and Vatersay offer a warm welcome and are teeming with life, activity and culture.
It is in this unique, safe and idyllic location that a rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a GP to join our established 2C medical practice.
We are ready and excited to welcome a GP with a sense of adventure and a passion for remote and rural medicine to escape the rat race and embrace a healthier work-life balance with NHS Western Isles.
The post will be based in Barra Medical Practice in beautiful Castlebay. The post holder will support provision of primary care, urgent and unscheduled care, and community hospital medical cover. St Brendan’s Hospital is a 3-bedded community hospital where the wider team prides itself in providing gold-standard care for patients.
We are looking for self-reliant and highly motivated GP to join our multi-disciplinary practice team. The post holder will be supported through in reach from the wider multi-disciplinary team which includes a First Contact Physio, Primary Care Pharmacist, CTAC, Community Nursing/Urgent Care, vaccination programme, Macmillan nurses, Scottish Ambulance Service and mental health colleagues. Peer support will also be provided from medical colleagues in Stornoway and from mainland colleagues, including emergency retrieval teams.
The role covering a wide remit will appeal to an experienced GP, but also those earlier in their careers looking for the challenge of widening their clinical skills and providing holistic care in a remote but supported environment. The role presents an excellent opportunity for the development of skills and confidence, with the remote-island location providing an unrivalled extra sense of responsibility and reward. The ability, drive and commitment to work as part of a team, sometimes at a distance, and to contribute to the local development of primary care and acute services is important. Developments are taking place within the nursing structure to provide additional services on island, 24/7 urgent care, hospital at home and a developing Advanced Clinical Practitioner service and you will be expected to support clinical colleagues, including nursing, mental health and Scottish Ambulance Service colleagues accordingly.
We look forward to welcoming you to our team.
For further information and an informal chat please contact Dr Clare Carolann, Associate Medical Director. or Michelle Taylor Family Health Services Manager michelle.taylor44@nhs.scot.
The successful applicant will be required to register with the PVG Scheme (Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme). The post is not eligible for relocation expenses.
All NHS Western Isles vacancies appear on the NHS Scotland website: apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk, along with a job description.
Tha beàrnan-obrach NHS Eilean Siar uile gu léir a' nochdadh air làrach-lìn NHS na h-Alba https://apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk/, còmhla ri dealbh-obrach.
If you have any further queries, please contact Tel: 01851 762027.
CLOSING DATE: 06/10/2026
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Rural Acute GP – Barra and Vatersay with NHS Western Isles in Castlebay, Scotland. It is listed as a General practitioner Medical doctor General Practitioner role. The advertised salary is £77,160 - £115,167. The contract type is Fixed-term. The application deadline is 06 Oct 2026.
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