Credential in Rural and Remote Health

Dr Caroline Heggie is one of seven doctors to receive the Rural and Remote Health Credential award as announced by NHS Education for Scotland (NES).

The Credential award acknowledges the complexities of providing good and safe care in remote and rural communities. It recognises too the competencies, and critical skills doctors bring to their practice of rural medicine and the example they set for future practitioners.

Caroline currently works as a Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine at NHS Shetland’s Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, the main town. The Shetland Islands are the northernmost region of the United Kingdom, 110 miles from the Scottish mainland and 50 miles northeast of Orkney.

Caroline studied Medicine in Scotland then moved to Australia in 2009. She spent the next ten years training and working there as an emergency medicine consultant covering large city hospitals as well as smaller rural areas. In 2021 she returned to Scotland and was keen to follow her passion for working in more isolated settings.

Looking back on her career to date, Caroline said:

“On my return to the UK I wanted a role where I could use all the experience I had gained to date. I was fortunate to be offered a unique rotational position with NHS Shetland, which allowed me to work in a remote region, spending five weeks at a time in Shetland but keeping Edinburgh as my base. This way of working was introduced in 2020 and has attracted several doctors to work in Shetland.

"When I did my training 20 years ago, rural medicine was not mentioned as a career path, but I think that’s changing now.

"The Remote and Rural Health Credential gives credibility to what we do in rural medicine. It proves that we have the skills and experience to provide high-quality care in these unique environments.

“The journey to earning the credential involved compiling evidence of my experience, reflective practice, and addressing gaps in knowledge through courses and additional training. I found the process straightforward and rewarding.

The credential helps put rural medicine on the map as a viable and rewarding specialty. It’s a great advert for Scottish rural hospitals, and I hope it will help with recruitment and inspire others to take up these essential roles."

 “For anyone already working in a rural setting or considering it, this qualification provides both credibility and a real sense of satisfaction. It marks remote and rural training as a specialism in itself.

“For me, it’s a personal milestone, and for rural hospitals, it’s a step towards recognition and further recruitment opportunities.

“I have been in my current role for four years now, my longest time in any job. It’s proof that something is working well,"

To find out more about the credential learner and recognition routes, visit NHS Education for Scotland’s Credential in Rural and Remote Health | Turas | Learn.