Preparing for a busy summer season across Orkney

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Summary of above reminders for visiting Orkney this summer

As we all know the summer season brings an abundance of visitors to our beautiful islands and we hope by outlining a few basic reminders, we’ll help to keep everyone well whether you’re a local or visitor.

We’d really appreciate if accommodation and travel providers, historical sites, and any other points of interest could share this message so we ensure a wide reach.

Visitors are asked to please remember to bring sufficient prescription and other regular medication to cover the duration of your stay in Orkney. Likewise, we’d remind our local’s, if you are travelling away from Orkney this summer, please remember to order enough prescription medication for your trip.

If you should require medication during your stay in Orkney, our local shops and supermarkets will have Over the Counter medicines such as pain relief and antihistamines.

We also have four community pharmacies across the mainland: Boots in Kirkwall, WHB Sutherland in Stromness and Kirkwall and Norsepharm in Dounby, who will be able to help with treatments for minor ailments and medication related advice. You can also access Pharmacy First services at all of our community pharmacies, the Pharmacy First service provides expert advice and, where appropriate, treatment for conditions such as sore throats, earache, cold sores, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and more. Find out more here, https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland/.

If you find yourself in Orkney and require medical attention or advice, you should call NHS24 on 111, this can be called 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also seek answers to many medical questions online at NHS Inform, there’s even a symptom checker. You can access NHS Inform here, https://www.nhsinform.scot/.

In an emergency, you should phone 999 or proceed to the Emergency Department at The Balfour. However please note, if you arrive at The Balfour and your medical concerns are not an emergency, you will be redirected to the most appropriate point of care.