HIAL Strikes

As you are aware there will be a closure at the airport next week due to strikes by staff, as such NHS Orkney has put plans in place, in conjunction with the staff at HIAL, to ensure we are able to provide essential services for our community.

Air ambulance flights will be taking place so urgent transfers will not be affected, should we need to transfer patients off island.

We have ensured that we have essential equipment and supplies that may be needed over the 3 days, that we would normally have delivered by plane, and that any medication that is needed will be available.

Some therapies, tests and procedures are being cancelled to ensure that we are minimising the risk to patients, with limited access to some of the supplies, equipment and transport we would normally have available at short notice. We have already contacted all those who have been affected by these cancellations and we are rescheduling the appointments.

Most of our work will continue as normal, we have some visiting consultants, and their work will not be interrupted as they are arriving prior to the closure

The plans that we are putting in place are based on our normal plans for adverse weather when transport has been disrupted.

For patients who have appointments at hospitals outside Orkney over these three days, please contact them directly to rearrange the appointments/ discuss alternatives. 

We have ensured that disruption to our services will be minimal, and that emergency care is not disrupted at all.