In 2026, Tammy Hine moved 760 miles to become Fair Isle’s only nurse; bad weather delayed her arrival by three weeks, and she brought about 150 dresses she says she can’t wear

When we're sick, most of us don't even consider how close a doctor or nurse is. A hospital is located someplace on the map, a clinic is just a short drive away, and an ambulance can reach in a matter of minutes. None of that can be taken for granted on Fair Isle, the southernmost of the Shetland Islands. Situated 24 miles from the Shetland Mainland and 27 miles from North Ronaldsay in Orkney.Tammy Hine, a nurse from Bedford, accepted the position and moved to Shetland in February 2026. She arrived on 9 February but could not reach Fair Isle for another three weeks because of bad weather. She moved about 760 miles (1,220 km) from Bedford to become Fair Isle’s only resident nurse. The NHS Shetland recruitment advert describes the role as the first point of contact for planned and emergency care, with clinical support from GPs on the Shetland mainland.Her arrival hadn't gone to plan. The bad weather delayed her on the Shetland Mainland for three weeks, and the wardrobe she carried, roughly 150 gowns, was a poor match for island winds. Despite the difficult journey, she settled in quickly and described the move as one more adventure before turning 50.What the job involvesTo understand why the role is unusual, it helps to look at what the health board requires. Published in August 2025, the advert was seeking an experienced district nurse or nurse practitioner on a band 6 pay of £41,608 to £50,702 a year. The recruitment advert offered a distant island allowance of £2,482 a year and relocation assistance of up to £8,000. As a non-medical prescriber, the nurse is expected to independently assess and treat minor ailments and to handle emergencies until more aid arrives. The recruitment advert also stated that the nurse could be required to provide personal care because the island has no local social care service.Although the post follows a five-day working pattern, the nurse must work flexibly to meet the island’s healthcare needs. The job description specifies a five-day working pattern, generally from Monday to Friday during daytime hours, with NHS24 available outside those hours. It also says the nurse must work flexibly to meet the island’s healthcare needs. In the heart of the island are a small clinic, a car for the nurse and a two-bedroom traditional stone house to rent. Clinical support is provided by GPs based at Levenwick and by video consultations.Hine brought extensive nursing experience to the role. Hine had been a nurse for 23 years, including the past 13 years as a palliative care specialist nurse. Prior to that, Hine was a district nurse. She applied after seeing the opening advertised, never thinking she would hear back. During her interview, she gave a PowerPoint presentation, which covered everything from Dolly Parton to her banjo. She told the BBC she wanted to slow down, find a new community and get to know people in an old-fashioned nursing style.Getting there is half the challengeGetting the job was straightforward. But getting to the island is a journey dictated by the weather. The only regular aviation service is run by two small Islander planes, which can take up to seven passengers each with a 15 kg baggage allowance per person, Fair Isle Bird Observatory says. Flights from Tingwall Airport near Lerwick take about 25 minutes, weather permitting. The Good Shepherd IV ferry carries 12 passengers and takes about two and a half hours from Grutness Pier in southern Shetland. The Fair Isle travel guide provides details of the available transport services.High winds and fog may interfere with travel any time of year, the island’s community website adds. During summer, the ferry sails three times a week from Grutness, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a service to Lerwick once every two weeks. Sailings depend on weather and seasonal timetables.Hine reached Shetland on 9 February, but could not travel over to Fair Isle for another three weeks. Her possessions were shipped in on a boat, and she told the BBC that she had largely packed her banjo, guitar, bed, sofa and those 150 gowns, none of which are much use in a gale. New trousers shot to the top of her shopping list.Settling into island lifeWhen she arrived, the island instantly seemed like home. Fair Isle is only three miles by one and a half, and the Fair Isle Development Company, a community charity, estimates it has a permanent population of roughly 60 individuals who largely live at the south end. The traditional industries were crofting and fishing, but the economy is now more varied. The island has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland since 1954, and the bird observatory, first built in 1948, attracts visitors in the spring and autumn months, which is part of the reason why the nurse also looks after tourists and birdwatchers.Hine says she likes the speed. She’s been to a party and a disco and jammed with a neighbour. The BBC reported 45 residents, but the health board and the island itself work with a figure nearer 60, so it is important to remember that in a community this tiny, numbers fluctuate with the seasons and the school term. Her action shows how much a single post may matter in a setting like this. The willing nurse, who packs sensibly and waits out the weather, becomes the full health service of the island. The dresses will have to wait until a peaceful day and a celebration.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.