Rural Clinical Fellow​/Rural Clinical Development Fellow

NHS HIGHLAND

Location: Caithness General Hospital

Job Title: Rural Clinical Fellow (CF) or Rural Clinical Development Fellow (CDF) Post

Hours: Full time 40 hours per week

Salary: £47,438- £62,758 per annum pro rata plus banding supplement

Contract: Fixed term until 31st August 2026

This post may be of particular interest to doctors considering careers in Emergency Medicine, GP, Medicine, Surgery or Anaesthetics, especially if thinking of working in rural Britain or undertaking humanitarian work overseas.

Working in Caithness General Hospital, one of Scotland’s Rural General Hospitals, you will be exposed to the full spectrum of clinical presentations, usually providing the initial assessment of patients presenting to the hospital. You will be given a high level of responsibility appropriate to your experience, whilst having rapid access to consultant opinion and support. We are remote, have good diagnostic facilities and a strong multidisciplinary team designed to provide care close to the patient’s home.

Those requiring specialist or Level 2 critical care are usually transferred, often by air.

Applicants must have completed equivalent UK FY1 & FY2 training. They must have worked at least 2 years in the UK NHS. We are developing a teaching programme based around the GMC Remote and Rural Credential. Whilst Fellows will not be eligible to apply for the credential, we are using the curriculum as a framework to help provide you with the knowledge and skills required of a remote and rural practitioner.

You will be supported to undertake quality improvement and personal development projects related to rural healthcare.

Post is available from until 31st August 2026. There may be opportunities to undertake a short exchange with CF/CDFs working in other RGHs. Successful applicant will be contracted for 40 hours per week, which for those successful in a CDF post will include an average of 4 hours per week of protected development time. Post holders will be paid at the ST level appropriate to their previous experience, with an additional banding supplement relevant to the OOH rota.

We are situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty with access to a wide range of outdoor activities. For useful information please see:

Informal enquiries should be made to:

Dr John Mac Leod, Clinical Lead. john.macleod2t

Dr Charlie Siderfin, Rural Emergency Physician. charles.siderfint

Dr Neil Shepherd, Rural Emergency Physician. neil.shepherdt

Externally via Job Train Only. Please quote reference: 236693. Closing date: 8th February 2026.

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NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.