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NHS Orkney welcomes the publication of the unannounced Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) inspection of maternity services at The Balfour undertaken in March 26
The report recognises a number of significant strengths within the maternity service. Inspectors observed staff providing compassionate, person-centred and family-focused care, with positive feedback from women and families who said they felt involved, listened to and well supported throughout their care journey. Strong teamworking, supportive leadership and a positive culture were also highlighted, alongside examples of innovation, such as improved communication pathways and local services designed to reduce travel for families. Encouragingly the inspection identified 12 areas of good practice, reflecting the commitment, professionalism and dedication of the maternity team in delivering high-quality care to women, babies and families across Orkney.…
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New MenB Vaccine programme
Following recent outbreaks of meningitis in the UK, the MenB vaccine is being offered to some older teenagers and students under 25 who are at higher risk of exposure to meningococcal group B bacteria. This time-limited programme will be offered to some older teenagers and some new college and university students who are at higher risk of exposure to meningococcal group B bacteria. Meningococcal disease is a rare but dangerous bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. Both of these illnesses can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Meningococcal bacteria can spread through close contact with someone who has…
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Waiting Well – ESSENCE-D Questionnaire
In the coming weeks NHS Orkney will be contacting, via letter, parents and guardians of children waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment inviting them to take part in a Scottish Government funded project to improve and support those waiting for an assessment. The project involves completing a questionnaire to help build a fuller picture of the child’s strengths and requirements. Following completion, families will be directed to an online resource which provides access to local and national support, information and practical advice. This support is designed to help families access the right information at the right time, rather than waiting until after an assessment. …
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GP Practices System Upgrades – Emergency Appointments Only
From next week, week commencing 20 June, we will begin our system upgrades to all GP Practices across Orkney. This programme of upgrades will take place across summer with each practice being affected for a minimum of two days. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the timetable for your practice in the notice below. These times may be subject to change and we’ll do our best to ensure they are updated and are as accurate as possible. This programme is being rolled out across NHS Scotland, the upgrades are designed to modernise our primary care IT systems, improving performance and…
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Public Service Reform Update
Public Service Reform is a national priority aimed at ensuring every pound of public sector funding is used effectively and that services are sustainable well into the future. In Orkney, the Council, NHS Orkney and Integration Joint Board (IJB) have developed a local approach, which was agreed upon and published last December, titled ‘A Routemap to (Public Service) Reform’. The Scottish Government have since endorsed this document and on Monday 8 June, senior management, Board Members and Elected Members from OIC, NHSO and IJB met at the St Magnus Centre in Kirkwall for the first time together to focus on…
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Public Holiday – Monday 15 June 2026
Monday 15 June 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. All Community Pharmacies will be open on Monday 15 June: You can find details of all our Public Holidays on the link here.
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Dave Harris to become Chief Executive of NHS Orkney
Dave Harris, current Director of People and Culture (HR) at NHS Orkney will become the substantive Chief Executive when Interim Chief Executive James Goodyear leaves the organisation later this year. Dave joined the health board in 2025 after relocating to Orkney, since his move he has embedded himself into NHS Orkney, becoming a familiar face to many. Dave’s dedication and commitment to the local community and his role has been evident, moving to Orkney permanently along with Helen, his wife, and two dogs. This announcement puts the health board in a stronger position with both a substantive Chief Executive and…
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Substantive Board Chair appointed
Davie Campbell to become substantive Board Chair of NHS Orkney Following a full recruitment process earlier this year, Davie Campbell will remain on the Board of NHS Orkney taking on the substantive role of Board Chair with an initial term of four years. Davie has served on the Board of NHS Orkney for eight years and does not shy away from the challenges facing the Health Board. Davie spoke of his appointment: “I’ve said before that I feel a real honour to be part of NHS Orkney and now to hold this post, for the community that I’ve always called…
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Nominations are now open for Scotland’s Health Awards 2026
Nominations are now officially open for Scotland’s Health Awards 2026, offering an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary individuals and teams who demonstrate exceptional dedication in delivering high-quality health and social care. These awards offer staff and the public a chance to reward excellence, innovation and leadership, whilst also highlighting the achievements of those who make a meaningful difference to patient outcomes each and every day. This year’s awards will feature 17 award categories, including the Reader’s Choice Award for Unsung Hero/Heroes. Join us by celebrating the unsung heroes of Scotland’s NHS by nominating in one of the following…
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Childsmile Programme hits healthy milestone
Childsmile is 20 years old and this month, in what is also National Smile Month, we are delighted to launch community activities and events taking place over summer. We are kicking off with our “What’s made you smile?” activity, and we invite you to be part of the celebration. We want to hear your stories and memories of Childsmile from the past 20 years. Childsmile is the national oral health improvement programme designed to improve the dental health of children and reduce inequalities in access to dental care. 20 years ago, half of children starting school showed signs of tooth…
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Patient Travel Advice
Following recent feedback regarding patients being unsure of how the patient travel process works, how to book flights and the eligibility of reimbursements, we wanted to provide some more information. Please read below a general reminder for anyone travelling for hospital appointments. Most of the patient travel information can be found on our website here, https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/our-services/patient-travel/. Including all the forms required to be completed and the most frequently asked questions with answers. If you have questions regarding travel entitlements and what you may be entitled to, please get in touch with the Travel Administration Team by calling 01856 888045 or…
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Car Parking at The Balfour
There will be planned works taking place in The Balfour car park from Wednesday 20th May which will last approximately eight weeks. The works will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption. Staff are reminded to please utilise the Old Balfour Health Centre car park or consider car sharing/walking. These works have been carefully planned for summer in the hope it’s nicer weather and more people will be able to walk/cycle etc. Patients and visitors to The Balfour are asked to allow extra time for parking while the works are taking place. Or consider alternative transport options where possible.…