Dr Elizabeth Croton
Dr Elizabeth Croton, GMC-registered GP clinician, working across Scotland’s urban and remote communities
Personal Story
Dr Liz Croton is one of the first learner route doctors to receive the Rural and Remote Health Credential via this route. Liz is a GMC-registered clinician working in NHS Practitioner Health and out-of-hours general practice, including remote practice across several island communities in Scotland, among them the Western Isles and Shetland.
Liz currently works in general practice across a range of settings, including urban and geographically remote locations. Her out-of-hours work takes her to some of the most isolated communities in the UK, where access to unscheduled care presents real clinical and logistical challenges.
Reflecting on reasons for undertaking the Credential, Liz said:
“I undertook the Rural and Remote Health Credential because I wanted a formal framework to reflect on, recognise and build on the skills I had developed through practice in rural and remote settings. What struck me was how closely the curriculum reflected the genuine demands of this work. It felt grounded in the reality of rural and remote practice and designed by people who understood the clinical and logistical challenges involved”.
“The structured meetings with senior clinicians were particularly valuable for my professional development and for the networking opportunities they created. The courses were useful, but one of the most practical benefits was being able to think through cases with colleagues working in similar settings”.
“GMC recognition also matters to me. It signals to patients, employers and colleagues that rural and remote medicine is a recognised area of expertise, rather than simply a consequence of where someone happens to work. For me, and for the communities I serve, it helps strengthen confidence in the skills, judgement and resilience required to deliver safe, effective unscheduled care in isolated settings”.
“Working in remote locations requires a particular kind of clinical independence, confidence and judgement. Having that experience formally recognised at GMC level feels important to me, and I hope it encourages other clinicians working in similar roles to consider pursuing the Credential too”.
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.