NHS Orkney Winter Plans

Since early summer, like all other health boards, NHS Orkney has been putting in place relevant plans for the winter season. As you may expect each winter, we see an increase in patients presenting to all our sites across NHS Orkney.

As a community we can all work together to keep one another as well as possible:

• Basic hand hygiene and cough etiquette are vital to ensure we are staying well. Washing your hands and remembering to cough or sneeze into a tissue then dispose of it will help us all from spreading germs.
• If you do have respiratory or vomiting/diarrhoea symptoms, please do not visit elderly, vulnerable or loved ones in hospital and healthcare settings.
• If you need medical help, please think who might be best placed to help, the right care, right place campaign (pictured below*) should help. There is a wealth of advice and guidance on NHS Inform.

Additionally, we need the community’s support to help us get your loved ones home in good time after a stay in hospital. Hospital discharges should take place by lunchtime to allow us capacity to admit others and not lead to delays in emergency care. We understand family members may have other commitments, but we hope by working together with the community we can aim to discharge at lunchtime, especially in these winter months.

Sam Thomas, Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHP’s and Chief Officer Acute said: “We are seeing increased pressure on all of our services as we would expect in the winter months, by keeping ourselves well, seeking support from the right services and only attending the Emergency Department when necessary, we can all play our part in protecting services over the winter.”

Once again, we appreciate the community’s support as we navigate another busy, winter period. 

* Please note NHS Orkney does not have a Minor Injuries Unit.