Healthcare in Orkney
NHS Orkney is the smallest health board in Scotland with a budget of just over £30 million and employs over 600 staff.
It collaborates closely with Orkney Islands Council and the voluntary sector to deliver comprehensive health and social care to the island population of just under 20,000 people.
Most islands have a resident doctor and nurse. Patients needing hospital treatment are sent to the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall or onwards to specialist centres in Aberdeen or Inverness.
Emergency medical situations are usually dealt with by the Scottish Air Ambulance Service. Just over 9,000 people a year are seen at the Balfour Hospital Outpatient Clinics, with almost half that number seen by the consultant surgeons and their staff.
Teams of visiting specialists visit Orkney regularly and help keep the average waiting time for an outpatient appointment very low.
The challenge of Orkney's distance from specialised mainland facilities, such as those in Aberdeen, has resulted in the introduction of new digital technologies to assist in patient consultations and diagnoses, and reduce the numbers of patient referrals away from the islands.
Dental services are provided by both NHS and private practices.
NHS Orkney
Garden House, New Scapa Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1BQ
Tel: 01856 885 400 Fax: 01856 885 411
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