Health / Doctor set for Scalloway GP role following trainee award win
A SHETLAND doctor has been named as a GP trainee of the year and is now set to take up a post in Scalloway.
Dr Margaret Johnston, originally from Aith, will take up the reins as a GP in Scalloway in the new year following the completion of her training.
She was named GP Trainee of the Year (North of Scotland Faculty Grant and MacLeod Award) in August.
Dr Johnston received the award at the North Scotland Faculty Meet and Connect Conference 2025, which was held in Inverness.
The RCGP North Scotland Faculty Grant and MacLeod Award recognises an outstanding General Practice Specialty Trainee (GPST) in the North Scotland region who has made a significant contribution to general practice.
During her year as a GP Registrar GPST3 at Lerwick Health Centre, Dr Johnston worked to strengthen the interface between primary and secondary care in Shetland and to improve internal processes within the practice.
Her efforts focused particularly on enhancing care for vulnerable patients and supporting junior medical and nursing colleagues locally.
The award panel was said to be impressed by her commitment to driving improvements for patient benefit and her pursuit of high-quality care.
Dr Johnston said: “I’m very grateful to be part of the rural training programme in Shetland.
“The breadth of experience I’ve gained here has been quite something. I’m thankful to all who have taken the time to train me over the past five years since I returned home.
“My motivation is working with and caring for the community I grew up in. I love Shetland and its people, and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather practise medicine. I’m excited to start in Scalloway in the new year.”
Pauline Wilson, director of medical education, said she was “absolutely delighted” that Dr Johnston was awarded the prestigious GP trainee award.
“This is a tremendous achievement and a testament to her commitment, clinical excellence, and the high standard of training delivered through NHS Shetland’s rural tract training programme,” she said.
“We are immensely proud of Dr Johnston’s success, which also reflects the dedication and support of her educational supervisor, Dr Emily Jamieson, at Lerwick Health Centre.
“This recognition not only celebrates Dr Johnston’s accomplishments but also highlights the strength and impact of rural GP training in Shetland.”
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