Tribute to former councillor Florence Grains

Tribute has been paid to former longstanding West Side councillor Florence Grains, who has died aged 92.

SIC convener said: “Florence was a hard-working councillor for her constituents and had a huge interest in education and social care.

“She was highly respected and just a totally excellent councillor, as well as a really, really nice and caring person.

“She was the first female vice convener and she also served on the health board for a considerable number of years.”

Mrs Grains was first elected in 1978 for Tingwall Whiteness and Weisdale ward, beating Alexander Arthur and John G. Rae to the seat. She lost the seat to Cecil R. H. Eunson in the 1982 election.

For the 1986 election she stood for the Sandsting and Aithsting seat as an independent and won, beating Harold Leask, also independent.

For the following four elections, 1990, 1994, 1999 and 2003, she was unopposed. When in 2007, the boundaries of constituencies in Shetland were completely redefined, Aithsting and Sandsting was incorporated into Shetland West, a three-member ward. Mrs Grains was elected together with Frank Robertson and Gary Robinson.

She was a councillor for a total of 30 years and served on many committees and organisations. She had been chairwoman of the SIC’s planning committee, as well as the audit and standards committee.

She had also been president of the Althing Society and served on the Shetland Health Board. She was a committee member of the Shetland Family History Society.

In this week’s Shetland Times

In today’s (Friday, 7th March) edition of The Shetland Times:

 • EXCLUSIVE: Domestic abuse survivor shares her experience

• Stories from suffragists to the workplace to mark International Women’s Day.

•  EXCLUSIVE: Information request reveals 30 secret seminar meetings held by council last year.

• Transport news, from ferry flood probe to tunnel vision, and freighter-flex and hybrid plane progress.

• EXCLUSIVE: Walls public toilets closed after “mindless” vandalism. 

• EXCLUSIVE: Bressay campaigner celebrates move towards statutory leave for grieving parents.

• SPORT: County win for Shetland badminton team against Caithness.

‘It’s actually happening’ – Contracts set to be signed for freighter-flex vessels 

Transport leaders say they are more confident than ever the long-awaited freighter-flex ferries will finally get built.

Crime ‘deteriorating’ in Lerwick Lanes  

Despite the isles having the lowest crime rate in Scotland, the situation is “deteriorating” in the Lerwick Lanes – including a lit cigarette being placed in a resident’s window. 

SIC community safety and resilience chairman Allison Duncan said during the board’s meeting this morning (Wednesday) he has been made aware of more incidents of crime in the area.

“I’ve been informed by tenants in the lanes in Lerwick the situation is deteriorating again with crime.

“For example, I was informed there was a number of youths who had gone and put a lit cigarette in a window.”

While Mr Duncan said those responsible had the “wit” to return 5-10 minutes later to remove the cigarette, incidents such as these had raised “concern” with tenants.

Chief inspector Chris Sewell said it is essential there is a visible police presence in this area – which had been the case during this incident. 

This comes after it was revealed during the meeting the isles has the lowest crime rate in Scotland with a recorded rate of 187 per 10,000 population in 2024. 

NHS consultant receives prestigious recognition

An NHS Shetland consultant – Caroline Heggie – is one of seven doctors to be awarded the first-ever
credential in rural and remote health (unscheduled and urgent care).

In December, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) announced that seven UK-based doctors had received this recognition, marking a significant step towards improving access to skilled urgent care in places where resources and access to acute care may be limited.  

The credential emphasises the critical skills required to deliver high-quality care in isolated regions.

Among the first cohort of awardees, six doctors are based in Scotland – four with NHS Highland, one with NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and one with NHS Shetland. The seventh doctor is with NHS England.

Dr Heggie, a locum consultant in emergency medicine at NHS Shetland, is among the group.

Reflecting on her career journey, she said: “I’m Scottish originally, but in 2009, I moved to Australia, where I spent nearly a decade training and working as an emergency medicine consultant.

“My work there spanned both large city hospitals and smaller rural areas, and I discovered a real passion for working in more isolated settings.

“Returning to Scotland, I sought a way to apply that experience.”

Her return led her to a unique rotational position with NHS Shetland, allowing her to work in the remote region while remaining based in Edinburgh.

“The rotational job was ideal. It allowed me to stay connected to Edinburgh while working in Shetland’s pragmatic, hands-on environment,” Dr Heggie said.

“I’ve been in this role for four years now, my longest time in any job.

“It’s proof that something is working well.”

The GMC-approved credential not only acknowledges these doctors’ exceptional expertise in looking after people requiring unscheduled and urgent care, but it also highlights their commitment to improving patient outcomes in rural and remote communities.  

Dr Heggie emphasised the importance of the credential in validating the diverse skill sets required for rural medicine.

She said: “The 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.

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

The journey to earning the credential involved compiling evidence of her experience, reflective practice, and addressing gaps in knowledge through courses and additional training.

Dr Heggie described the process as “straightforward and rewarding”.

NHS Shetland is already a popular placement choice for students, and Dr Heggie feels the new credential could also be a way to inspire future generations of medics to consider rural medicine.

She said: “Rural medicine was never mentioned as a career path during my training 20 years ago, but I think that’s changing.

“Junior doctors today can see examples like mine—a rewarding, flexible career balancing challenging medical work with a good work-life balance.”

She added: “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.”

Dr Heggie also commended NHS Shetland for its innovative rotational job model. She said: “When I describe my job to others, they’re often impressed and even a bit jealous. It’s a novel approach that I haven’t seen elsewhere in the NHS.”

Dr Heggie spends five weeks at a time in Shetland on a rotational basis. This way of working was introduced in 2020 and has attracted a number of doctors to work in Shetland.

With the credential programme now in place, Dr Heggie felt it could become a springboard for expanding rural healthcare training and recognition across the UK.

“We were the first seven to go through the credential process, and it feels like a celebration. This is just the beginning – it’s going to grow from here,” she said.

“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. I’d say, go for it.”

Pauline Wilson, who is , a consultant physician with NHS Shetland and NES associate postgraduate dean for remote and rural credentialing offered a “huge congratulations”.

“It’s truly inspiring to see a doctor from Shetland – the most northerly health board – represented among this pioneering group,” Dr Wilson added.

“Caroline’s dedication and expertise highlight the incredible impact rural medicine can have on communities and the importance of this milestone for healthcare in remote areas.

“Well done, Caroline! You’ve set a fantastic example for others and put Shetland on
the map as a leader in rural healthcare innovation.”