Radiology

Ultrasound Appointments Reminder

We have been very fortunate in Orkney to keep our ultrasound waiting lists quite low over the past few years and we are able to offer many appointments almost as soon as we receive the requests from your doctor. However, we are noticing folk are not making it to their appointments. If you have been away and the letter for your appointment arrived before you got back, please let us know and we will rearrange the appointment for you as soon as possible. If you can’t make the appointment, for whatever reason, please just let us know and we will arrange a time that suits you better.

We realise receiving an appointment within a few days of being referred can be quite quick and may be a bit daunting, but we want to make sure these tests are done as soon as we can.

To rearrange your appointment, you should call the number on your letter, or simply call 01856 888000.

The Radiology Department provides a 24 hour high quality, efficient, patient focused imaging service to the people of Orkney

If you have an appointment for the Radiology Department, please make sure you check in at our Central Reception desk on arrival at The Balfour.  Please do not go straight through to the Radiology department or you may not be seen in a timely manner.  

The Radiology Department undertakes general x-rays including ward and theatre work, general and Obstetric Ultrasounds and CT examinations. With a workload of around 10.000 examination a year.

The department is digital and all images are stored on an archive both locally and nationally.  All X ray and CT images are reported by consultant radiologists from NHS Grampian. 

Ultrasound is reported by the resident sonographers and double reading is available from NHS Grampian when required.

An on-call service for both General and CT examination is in operation.

A Consultant Radiologist from NHS Grampian carries out a clinic in Orkney every four weeks. This clinic includes specialised ultrasound examination and teaching for staff members

Referrals

Referrals  come from hospital consultants, visiting consultants, junior doctors working in the hospital and GP’s. 

CT referrals are consultant led only at this time.

Some Minor injury nurse practitioners are trained to request specific x-rays examinations.

Students

The department has students from Robert Gordon’s University. The placements usually last five weeks and we have two students from the end of April until the end of June. We also accommodate students from other universities who choose Orkney for their elective placement in order to experience radiography in a remote and rural hospital.

Contact Details

The Radiology Department
The Balfour
Foreland Road
Kirkwall KW15 1NZ 

Tel: 01856 888232

Radiology Services Manager: 01856 888107