Self Care
Hangover, grazed knee, sore throat, coughs, colds...
For a speedy recovery, self care is the best option when you have a minor illness or injury.
A well-stocked medicine cabinet means you’ll receive the right treatment immediately.
You can find out more about illnesses, health related services and what to keep in your medicine cabinet by visiting:
As an alternative a wider range of Healthcare advice and information on self care can be found by calling the NHS Healthline on 08085202030.
The NHS Inform website also provides comprehensive health information and self care advice, including ways on how to treat common problems yourself:
Self Management / Long-Term Condition
Diabetes, COPD, Dementia, Heart Disease...
If you’re living with a long term health condition, additional assistance is available to help you access a range of services that offer the level of support you may need at different stages of your condition, including benefits entitlement, stress management and support groups. Most of these back-up services are free.
Self management enables you to take greater control of your health and improve your quality of life.
To find out more visit:
Pharmacist
Coughs and colds, constipation, aches and pains...
Orkney has four mainland pharmacies; two in Kirkwall, one in Stromness and one in Dounby. To get expert advice or information on healthcare, as well as help with your medicines, see your Pharmacist. There is no need to make an appointment.
Your Pharmacist sells a wide range of over the counter medicines to treat minor ailments such as hay fever, athlete’s foot and cold sores.
All pharmacies dispense prescriptions and most supply emergency contraception on the NHS. If you run out of your regular medicines and can’t obtain a prescription from your GP, your Pharmacist can dispense an urgent repeat supply.
Not all patients in Orkney have direct access to a Pharmacist, patients living on the islands should contact their GP surgery in the normal manner.
Dentist
Toothache, dental problems...
Here in Orkney, dental services are provided by the NHS Public Dental Services, together with independent NHS-committed practices.
Anyone without a dentist requiring urgent care, should call the Public Dental Service at The Balfour or Garson Surgery.
Dental Emergencies
- During surgery hours: Please contact your regular dental clinic who will be able to help.
- Out of surgery hours: Please contact NHS 24 on 111 where your problem will be triaged and an on-call dentist called out, if appropriate. For more information on NHS24 please use the following link
Full contact details for all Dental Practices within Orkney can be found on the NHS Orkney Website.
GP
A range of clinicians, including doctors and nurses, to help you with physical and mental health issues
When you have an illness or injury that just won’t go away, make an appointment to see your General Practitioner (GP).
Your GP, also known as your family doctor, will carry out detailed examinations and provide advice, information and prescriptions. Your doctor can also refer you to specialist healthcare professionals.
Everyone needs to register at their local GP Surgery. To find out how to register, or find your nearest medical practice, simply visit:
GP
Full contact details for all Medical Practices within Orkney can be found on the NHS Orkney Website and click on the link for GP Practices.
Further advice on registering with a GP can be found by contacting NHS Orkney’s Primary Care Team on 01856 888176.
Out of Hours Service
Too ill to wait until your GP surgery is open?
When your GP surgery is closed, and you’re too ill to wait until it re-opens, you can access appropriate Out of Hours Services through NHS 24.
Your local NHS Out of Hours Service works with NHS 24 to make sure that urgent medical advice and care is always available to you. Call NHS 24 on 111.
For patients who live on the islands and require medical help when the GP Surgery is closed please call Switchboard at the Balfour on 01856 888000 who will alert the relevant GP/Nurse.
Mental Health Service
Low mood, stressed, anxious, distressed...
During office hours please call your GP who will phone the duty worker of the CMHT. Your GP will then refer you to the Mental Health Service if appropriate. However if you are already being seen by a member of the team, then you can contact the duty worker on 01856 888 280. The duty worker is a registered Mental Health Nurse who can offer help and advice.
If you need assistance urgently out of hours or during a Public Holiday then please phone NHS 24 on 111.
For patients who live on the islands and require the mental health service when the GP surgery is closed please phone the Balfour Hospital Switchboard on 01856 888 000 who will alert the relevant GP. The GP can then contact the out of hours mental health team members as required.
Please see the section ‘In need of social care advice and support?’ (below) about how to contact the Mental Health Service for Children and Adolescents in Orkney.
Emergency Department
Burns, broken bones or severely unwell...
If you require urgent care, you should attend your Emergency Department.
The Emergency Department at the Balfour is open 24 hours a day. You can be treated for a range of ailments including sprains, burns and simple fractures. If your injury happened a few days ago, or if it’s an old injury that has got worse again, please turn to your GP for advice.
All island patients should contact their local GP surgery for assistance.
Scottish Ambulance Service
Suspected stroke or heart attack, serious illness/injury...
The Scottish Ambulance Service provides care for people with symptoms of serious illness or who have been badly injured.
When you call 999, the Scottish Ambulance Service will respond with the most appropriate help for your situation. Of all the NHS services, 999 should only be used for serious illnesses or injuries. This means that essential treatment is given to those who need it as quickly as possible.
All island patients should make use of the 999 service to summon a response.
Social Care Services
Are you in need of Social Care advice and support?
Orkney Health and Care’s Community Social Services provides a range of services to many of the most vulnerable people in our communities including:
- Adult Social Work
- Older People’s Services
- Children and Families Services
- Criminal Justice Services
- All Age Disability Services
- Mental Health Social work services
- Occupational Therapy Services
- Telecare Services (includes community care alarms)
- Physical Disability Services
- Frozen Meals service
The above services are delivered by a dedicated team of staff, who are highly trained to deal with social care and social work matters. Calls and enquiries can be made using 01856 873535 and asking for the relevant service above.
Alternatively, you can email us on social.services@orkney.gov.uk or for more information on the services we provide use the link below and follow the link for Orkney Health and Care under the Service Directory tab.
We also operate an emergency out of hours Social Work Service. This service can be accessed on 01856 888000 between the hours of 5pm and 9am during the working week and from 5pm on a Friday until 9am on a Monday.
Useful Numbers
Emergency 999
The Balfour 01856 888000
Social Services 01856 873535
GP Surgeries
Skerryvore Practice, Kirkwall 01856 888240
Heilendi Practice, Kirkwall 01856 872388
Stromness Surgery 01856 850205
Dounby Surgery 01856 771209
St Margarets Hope Surgery 01856 831206
Eday Surgery 01857 622243
Flotta Surgery 01856 701769
Rousay Surgery 01856 821265
Shapinsay Surgery 01856 711284
Westray Surgery 01857 677209
Papa Westray Surgery 01857 644227
North Ronaldsay Surgery 01857 633226
Stronsay Surgery 01857 616321
Hoy & Walls Health Centre 01856 701209
Sanday Surgery 01857 600221
Dental Surgeries
Deyanov Dental 01856 877118
Orkney Dental, Kirkwall 01856 872030
Orkney Dental, Stromness 01856 881188
Garson Dental, Stromness 01856 850658
NHS Orkney Public Dental Services 01856 888258
Community Pharmacists
WHB Sutherland Ltd, Kirkwall 01856 873240
WHB Sutherland Ltd, Stromness 01856 850338
Boots, Kirkwall 01856 872 097
Dounby Pharmacy 01856 771550
Published by the NHS Orkney Digital Team
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