Rebecca Payne, a flying island doctor, may have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. As an out-of-hours island GP, she provides healthcare to some of the most isolated communities in the world while cherishing “magic moments,” such as seeing baby seals, king penguins on the beach, and the Northern Lights. “Every day I pinch myself and think, ‘I cannot believe this is the life I’m living.’ I absolutely love my job,” she said.
Dr. Payne has been working for NHS Orkney for four years, often flying between the archipelago’s islands. She is on a schedule with seven other doctors who each spend a week on Orkney once every eight weeks. Working on remote islands like the Orkneys and the Falklands poses unique challenges, from dealing with medical emergencies to managing patient care during inclement weather, from taking [patients’] blood to taking it to the aeroplane for collection.
Dr. Payne claims that working on isolated islands is a real antidote to anyone feeling burned out or disillusioned with their job. “Mixing it up and using your skills in a different setting can really bring the love back for what we do. So I would say to colleagues who are feeling midcareer blues or disillusioned to just go for a short locum at one of these places, try something different, as it really can bring the joy back,” she explained. Payne adores her island job and believes that “being able to make a difference when it matters most” is incredibly rewarding.
Despite the very particular difficulties that come with her isolated work environment, Payne has always felt at ease on islands. She considers working as a GP on isolated islands a privilege and the island communities that she serves really appreciate their doctors. According to Dr. Payne, the ability to provide quality general practice has made all the difference for populations living in islands without hospitals
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More