Wanted: GP who likes the outdoors

The website promotes the scenery Applecross

A remote Highland community has taken the unusual step of setting up a dedicated website to advertise a vacancy for a local doctor.

Residents in Applecross feared traditional job advertisements would not attract applicants to the post at the surgery in Camusterrach.

The website says the job would suit a GP hoping to live in a small, friendly community, who enjoys the outdoors.

The advert will also be placed in outdoor magazines.

Applecross, located opposite the Isle of Skye, is a rugged landscape of mountains, crofting settlements and moorland.

This is a very beautiful place to live, a friendly community which is a great place to bring up a young family and a very attractive area to those who enjoy the outdoors.

Alison Macleod, Applecross Community Council

The community hopes to recruit a GP to work alternate weeks with the existing doctor in the area to provide out of hours care and daytime services.

'Family friendly'

Alison Macleod, secretary of the Applecross Community Council, said the position was essential to the wellbeing of the area.

She said: "We were advised that it may be difficult to attract a suitable doctor to the post. We decided that we had to do all we could to make sure the job is well advertised.

"This is a very beautiful place to live, a friendly community which is a great place to bring up a young family and a very attractive area to those who enjoy the outdoors."

The website promotes the nearby mountains of Torridon, Achnashellach and Skye.

And it suggests the waters of the Inner Sound of Raasay would be an ideal place for sailing and kayaking.

NHS Highland will also be using the website in their advertising campaign for the position.

The job will also be advertised in the British Medical Journal.