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.

The report also identifies areas where further improvement is required, including strengthening governance processes, ensuring timely review of adverse events, improving oversight of policies and procedures, and supporting staff with protected time for leadership and training. NHS Orkney accepts these findings and has already developed a comprehensive improvement action plan to address all requirements and recommendations.

Sam Thomas, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHP’s and Chief Officer Acute Services at NHS Orkney said: “I’d like to thank everyone for supporting the visit and to the HIS team for carrying out such a comprehensive inspection. Our priority now is to build on the strong foundations identified in this report while implementing sustainable improvements that will further strengthen safety, governance and staff support. Progress will be closely monitored through our clinical governance structures and reported appropriately. I’d also like to thank all the patients and families who contributed to the inspection. Last, but not least, I must highlight the dedication and compassion the maternity team show to our patients and their families every single day. Their commitment remains central to us delivering safe, effective, and person-centred maternity care for our community.”