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Orkney Alcohol and Drugs Partnership film premiere of “Alcohol Free in Orkney”
On National Alcohol Action Day, 12 November, The Orkney Alcohol and Drugs Partnership will premiere their “Alcohol Free in Orkney” short film in partnership with Arclett. Arclett is a specialist alcohol prevention platform which focuses on early behaviour change. The premiere will take place in the King Street Halls, Kirkwall from 4pm where everyone is invited to attend. This film features Martin Gray sharing his own story, explaining how his own relationship with alcohol has changed. It focuses on the importance of talking and having conversations and that these conversations don’t have to be clinical. Martin Gray said: “It was…
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NHS Orkney’s 2025/26 Non-Ministerial Annual Review
The Scottish Government monitor the performance of each health board on an ongoing basis, and part of the process includes an Annual Review. Members of the public are invited to join NHS Orkney’s Non-Ministerial Annual Review on Wednesday 18 November from 12pm – 2pm at The Balfour, to hear about a range of developments underway to further improve care and services for our community and patients. The meeting will include a summary of how we did in 2025/26 against our priorities and national standards and will cover both our achievements and challenges. As well as a question and answer session.…
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NHS Orkney Board headed to Dounby!
Our next NHS Orkney Board meeting will take place on Thursday, 29 October. For this Board meeting we are heading out into the community and it will take place in the Milestone Kirk, Dounby. As well as still being available virtually, through an MS Teams link. The meeting will take place from 9.30am – 12.30pm. The meeting papers will be available later this month, if you want to attend virtually, the meeting link details can also be found here, https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/about-us/board-and-committees/orkney-nhs-board/. Davie Campbell, Board Chair at NHS Orkney said: “I’m really excited to finally be hosting one of our Board meetings…
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National Waiting List Validation – Patients Waiting Over 10 Weeks
From next week, Monday 5 October, patients (who are over 16 years old) who have been waiting over 10 weeks for an outpatient or inpatient appointment or who are a return patient waiting past their recall date and who do not currently have an appointment in the following specialities will be contacted by The National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU) on 0345 646 0565: General MedicineGynaecologyRheumatologyDermatologyTrauma and Orthopaedic Patients with a mobile number will receive a text message first. If no response is received from the text message, the NECU team will follow-up with phone calls. Patients who only have a…
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Flu Vaccinations
The 2026 Flu vaccination programme is now underway. As well as the usual routes (detailed below) for vaccinations, this year our colleagues at Scottish Ambulance Service will also be supporting community drop-in clinics for those who are eligible on the following dates and times. These sessions are particularly aimed at cattle and swine workers, health and social care workers, homeless and unpaid carers. Those eligible can just head along to the drop-in clinics during the following times, no appointment needed: To check if you are eligible, click here, https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/flu-vaccine/. Eligibility for the flu vaccine is based on advice from the…
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Public Holiday – Monday 28 September 2026
Monday 28 September is a Public Holiday for NHS Orkney. All GP surgeries will be closed on the Public Holiday, but in an emergency you can contact a GP in the same way as routine evening/weekend cover. If you are ill when your practice is closed and can’t wait until it reopens, you should call NHS 24 on 111. In an emergency you should dial 999. Community Pharmacy Arrangements on the Public Holiday on Monday 28 September:
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The Orkney Health Board Endowment Funds supports HMS Tern Analogue Photography, Heritage, Science and Wellbeing Project
Funding from the Orkney Health Board Endowment Funds has been awarded to support a new analogue photography, heritage, science and wellbeing project at HMS Tern in Birsay. The project aims to support mental wellbeing by giving participants time to slow down, focus, build confidence and connect with others. The project, led through the Birsay Heritage Trust, will use vintage film cameras, darkroom processes and practical photography sessions to help young people and community groups explore Orkney’s wartime history in a creative and hands-on way. The funds will allow the trust to purchase vintage film cameras and equipment to support safe…
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Free Film Screening of ‘The Low Road’ on Thursday 10 September at 7pm
Last November we attempted to host a film screening of The Low Road. A poignant, fictional account about the toll mental health crisis is taking on our young adults, the film follows a guilt-ridden and heart-broken young woman who hikes Scotland’s West Highland Way to find salvation after the suicide of her best friend at university. Unfortunately, the evening of the screening coincided with Orkney being plunged into darkness due to a technical fault leading to a mass electricity outage. The free screening is now rescheduled for Thursday 10 September, World Suicide Prevention Day. All are welcome to attend this…
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Rona Gold reappointed to NHS Orkney Board
We are delighted to announce that Rona Gold, Non-Executive Member will remain on the Board for a further four years following her reappointment. This reappointment ensures stability across the Board and ensures we have a full complement of Non-Executive Members. As a reminder, you can view all our Non-Executive and Executive Members here, https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/about-us/board-members/
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Improving access to island diagnostics Point-of-care testing trialled by paramedics in Orkney and Shetland
Paramedics in Orkney and Shetland are to be equipped with portable diagnostic devices under a new pilot aimed at cutting unnecessary hospital journeys and helping more islanders receive safe care at home. Project SOUND will see point-of-care testing technology introduced into Orkney and Shetland, allowing paramedics to carry out a range of rapid tests, that would traditionally require hospital admission, to support the assessment of a range of common and serious health conditions closer to the patient. Currently, up to 77% of ambulance callouts in the islands result in a hospital transfer, including 86% of patients with chest pain and 77% of those with breathing difficulties. Many of these patients could be safely treated and monitored at home if paramedics had faster…
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Public Holiday – Monday 10 August 2026
Monday 10 August is a Public Holiday for NHS Orkney. All GP surgeries will be closed on the Public Holiday, but in an emergency you can contact a GP in the same way as routine evening/weekend cover. If you are ill when your practice is closed and can’t wait until it reopens, you should call NHS 24 on 111. In an emergency you should dial 999. You can find our public holiday dates on the link here: Public Holidays – NHS Orkney Community Pharmacy Arrangements on the Public Holiday on Monday 10 August:
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Charities fund Scotland-wide testing project to identify inherited cancer risk in people with Westray and Whalsay ancestry
A landmark charity-funded project will offer genetic testing to thousands of people with ancestral links to Westray in Orkney and Whalsay in Shetland, helping identify those who have a higher inherited risk of developing certain cancers. Eight charities are funding the two-year project, which will cost more than £365,000. The project will be led by researchers from the University of Aberdeen and the NHS North of Scotland Genetics Services based in NHS Grampian, and will offer testing for the specific BRCA gene variants which are more common in people with Westray and Whalsay ancestry. The project will be funded by…