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Now, another 'best job in the world', but this time in Scotland!

By Super Admin
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Google Oneindia News

Washington, January 21 (ANI): A small community in the Applecross peninsula in Wester Ross, Scotland, is trying to attract GPs to apply for the vacancy of a family doctor highlighting the area's scenery, wildlife, and outdoor activities.

They are seeking a doctor's assistance to help their existing GP cover the spectacular but isolated area.

Since the residents were afraid that hey might have difficulty recruiting a suitable candidate, they are helping health officials to advertise the post, highlighting the area's beauty.

They have started a website to attract candidates.

Apart from the British Medical Journal, the vacancy is also being advertised in outdoor magazines, in the hope that this may arouse the interest of GPs who enjoy hill walking, climbing or kayaking.

"Applecross, which is renowned for its scenic beauty, wildlife and outdoor activities, requires a general practitioner to operate from the surgery in Camusterrach," the Scotsman quoted the advert as reading.

"This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is happy living in a small, friendly community and who enjoys the outdoors. The mountains of Torridon, Achnashellach and Skye are close by and the waters of the Inner Sound of Raasay, which are warmed by the Gulf Stream, are ideal for sailing and kayaking," the ad added.

Dr Janice Cargill, who has served Applecross for about 18 years, said that she wanted a colleague to share round-the-clock care for the 265 registered patients.

She revealed that her existing associate lived hundreds of miles away in North Wales, and would visit only infrequently to give her some time off.

Considering the whole situation, NHS Highland is said to have agreed to hire another GP to work on a one-week-on, one-week-off basis.

Anyone selected for the post would be given a salary of 69,466 pounds pro rata per year, or 34,733 pounds for alternate weeks.

The selected candidate would also get a car allowance to cover the crofting townships and cottages scattered along the road between Toscaig, in the south, and Kenmore on the north coast road - a distance of about 20 miles.

Highlighting the fact that the next GP surgery and ambulance station was about 18 miles away in Lochcarron on a notoriously difficult road, Alison Macleod, the secretary of the Applecross Community Council, said that having a second GP was essential in such a remote area.

"There may be difficulties recruiting someone, these days doctors do not expect to do seven nights in a row on call. So we are hoping to attract a GP wanting to make a lifestyle change, someone who still wants to work as doctor but wants to relax and enjoy themselves a bit more, and a lot of GPs enjoy outdoor pursuits," she said.

A NHS Highland spokeswoman said: "The self-convened Applecross Health Care Association, at their own behest, developed the website in question as a promo for prospective candidates and we are pointing all those who inquire to the site, which is very attractive and helpful. We acknowledge the particular challenges of the geography and are trying to maintain an integral out-of-hours service, as this is the best configuration for this area." (ANI)

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