Balfour Hospital

In 1836, John Balfour of Trenabie set up a charitable trust for the founding of a hospital with the interest from £20,000 worth of Mexican government bonds. In 1845, the trustees of the hospital fund bought the house from local merchant, James Shearer, together with the two large gardens and blacksmith's shop on the west side of the street, for £450. At first known simply as the Orkney Hospital, it became the Balfour Hospital in 1853, in recognition of the contribution of the Balfour family.{{cite web|url=http://www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/hotels/westend2.html |title=West End Hotel, Kirkwall |publisher=archived from 4hotels.co.uk |accessdate=2008-08-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030924013005/http://www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/hotels/westend2.html |archivedate=24 September 2003 }} This building is now the Kirkwall West End Hotel.

A new purpose built hospital in New Scapa Road in Kirkwall opened in 1927.{{cite web|url=https://historic-hospitals.com/gazetteer/orkney-and-shetland/|title=Balfour Hospital|publisher=Historic Hospitals|accessdate=25 December 2018}} A Macmillan House ward for cancer patients had opened at the Eastbank Hospital in 1993; this was replaced by a Macmillan House ward in the Balfour Hospital in March 2000.{{cite web| url=http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2003/archive2.htm| title=Orkney News Archive| date= 6–12 January 2003| publisher=Orcadian| accessdate=2008-08-02|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030303153110/http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2003/archive2.htm|archivedate=3 March 2003}}

The Groundwater Suite opened in 2011, bringing a new operating theatre, a sterilising department, and new x-ray unit to the Balfour hospital. This £5 million development was named after Bill Groundwater, a distinguished former surgeon from the islands.{{cite press release| url= http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2001/03/e8eac746-7db8-4898-815c-ed36b0bdaa6d| title=First Minister Opens New Balfour Hospital Development| archiveurl=https://wayback.archive-it.org/3011/20130207131827/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2001/03/e8eac746-7db8-4898-815c-ed36b0bdaa6d |date=2 March 2001 |archivedate=7 February 2013 |publisher=Scottish Government| accessdate=3 May 2014}}

A new purpose built hospital designed by Keppie Design and built by Robertson Group at a cost of £65 million opened in July 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/article/nhs-orkney-hospital-tops-out|title=NHS Orkney hospital tops out|date=28 November 2017|publisher=Scottish Construction Now|accessdate=24 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.orcadian.co.uk/new-healthcare-facility-to-be-named-balfour-hospital/|title=New hospital to be named The Balfour|date=26 April 2018|publisher=The Orcadian|accessdate=24 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://premierconstructionnews.com/2018/02/04/new-orkney-hospital/|title=New Orkney Hospital|publisher=Premier Construction News|accessdate=24 December 2018}} It is first hospital in the UK built to a net-zero standard, which means the running of the building does not contribute to carbon emissions. It has a fully-electric energy centre with air-to-water heat pumps generating all hot water and electricity, solar panels on the roof and back-up oil generators in case of emergency.{{cite news |title=Scotland leads the way on NHS net-zero challenge |url=https://www.buildingbetterhealthcare.com/news/article_page/Scotland_leads_the_way_on_NHS_net-zero_challenge/200069 |access-date=23 May 2022 |publisher=Building Better Healthcare |date=11 April 2022}}

Balfour Hospital has 48 beds in six wards, a day hospital and a day-surgery unit.{{cite web| url=http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/article.asp?page=3&parent=3| title=Services: Balfour Hospital| publisher=NHS Orkney| accessdate=3 January 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103191857/http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/article.asp?page=3&parent=3| archive-date=3 January 2015| url-status=dead}} There are currently approximately 136 births a year at the maternity unit and it has full accreditation as baby friendly, since July 2014.{{cite web |url=http://unicefbfi.force.com/Events/Awards?facility=001A000000iH0pxIAC |title=Baby Friendly accreditation: Balfour Hospital |publisher=Baby Friendly Initiative |accessdate=2 January 2015}} The high dependency unit was closed in November 2022 due to “staffing challenges”.{{cite news |title=Balfour shuts unit amid staff shortage |url=https://www.orcadian.co.uk/balfour-shuts-unit-amid-staff-shortage/ |access-date=8 November 2022 |publisher=Orcadian |date=5 November 2022}}

In 2013, hospital mortality figures were the worst in Scotland with a higher than expected death rate in 23 of the last 27 quarters, resulting in 128 more deaths than expected, but the small numbers involved mean that little reliance can be placed on the figures.{{cite news|title=Study reveals 538 'excess deaths' at Scotland's worst hospital|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/447408/Study-reveals-538-excess-deaths-at-Scotland-s-worst-hospital|accessdate=8 December 2013|newspaper=Scottish Express|date=7 December 2013}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/inspecting_and_regulating_care/nhs_hospitals_and_services/nhs_orkney/balfour_hospital.aspx Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspection reports]

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Category:NHS Scotland hospitals

Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1927

Category:NHS Orkney

Category:Hospitals in Orkney

Category:1845 establishments in Scotland

Category:Hospitals established in 1845

Category:Kirkwall