NHS Orkney
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox NHS organisation
| name = NHS Orkney
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| logo = NHS Orkney logo.svg
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| start_date = {{Start date|2004|04|01|df=y}}
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| headquarters = Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/about-us |website=NHS Orkney |accessdate=4 January 2020}}
| region_served = Orkney
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| type = NHS board
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| hospitals = Balfour Hospital
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| staff = 603 WTE (2023/24){{cite web |title=ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For Year Ended 31 March 2024 |url=https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%20for%20Year%20Ended%2031%20March%202024.pdf |website=NHS Orkney |access-date=13 February 2025}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
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NHS Orkney is an NHS board that provides healthcare services in the Orkney area of Scotland.{{Cite web|title=Health and social care in Orkney|url=https://www.orkney.com/life/live/health|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Orkney.com|language=en-gb}}
Services
NHS Orkney operates one hospital, Balfour Hospital, in Kirkwall. {{As of|2016}}, it has 24 general practitioners (GPs) who work across 6 practices.{{cite web |url=http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/service/gp-practices |title=General Practices (GPs) |publisher=NHS Orkney |accessdate=1 December 2016}}
History
In 2005 NHS Orkney found it impossible to attract GPs for remote island, surgeries although offering a generous remuneration package.{{Cite news|last=Lister|first=David|title=Orkney hunts for doctors|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/orkney-hunts-for-doctors-hkzjjcfqqp6|access-date=2021-09-22|issn=0140-0460}}
In 2007, John Ross Scott, a former Liberal Democrat leader of the Scottish Borders Council became chair of the board.{{cite news|title=JR Scott heralds return to politics with the SNP|url=http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/local-headlines/jr-scott-heralds-return-to-politics-with-the-snp-1-3637371 |accessdate=26 December 2014 |work=Southern Reporter |date=18 December 2014}}
In 2009 the board published their own vision for how healthcare services across the Islands could be redesigned, in order to become more sustainable.{{cite web |url=http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/images/pdf/9.1%20b%20-%20final%20version%20our%20orkney%20our%20health%20-%20transforming%20clinical%20services.pdf |title=Our Orkney, Our Health - Transforming Clinical Services |publisher=NHS Orkney |date=2011 |accessdate=27 May 2014}}
In 2011 the board decided to use tablet computers to reduce the printing costs associated with their meetings.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-14971318|title=NHS Orkney cuts out paper in favour of iPads |publisher=BBC News |date=19 September 2011 |accessdate=28 May 2014}} In February 2020, NHS Orkney owned 700 tablet/computers for staff members’ use in their jobs.{{Cite web|title=RE: Freedom of Information Request 201920|url=https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Response%20Letter%20request%20201920-467.pdf|access-date=2021-09-22}}
Ian Kinniburgh, the chair of NHS Shetland, took up the post of chair of NHS Orkney on 1 December 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.shetnews.co.uk/newsbites/11483-new-post-for-kinniburgh |title=New post for Kinniburgh |website=www.shetnews.co.uk |date=29 September 2015 |accessdate=1 December 2016}}
Meghan McEwen, who had been a non-executive board member since 2018, was appointed as chairwoman of NHS Orkney in February 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-14|title=New NHSO chairwoman appointed|url=https://www.orcadian.co.uk/new-nhso-chairwoman-appointed/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=The Orcadian Online|language=en-GB}}
References
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