| | Our local 90 bedded hospital is situated in Kirkwall, the main town in Orkney. It is approximately 14 miles from Dounby, but the empty roads allow this journey to be made in less than 20 minutes.
There are two consultant surgeons and two consultant anaesthetists, but GPs provide all other services, including intrapartum obstetrics, acute medicine, rehabilitation medicine, palliative care and continuing care. There is a team of five SHOs providing support in the acute wards for the Surgeons and GPs who work there. There are also a Day Hospital, Physiotherapy, Occupation therapy, Speech and Language and Dietetics departments as well as a fully equipped Laboratory and X-ray/Ultrasound department, all available by open access.
 Specialist services are provided on a visiting basis, mainly by consultants from Aberdeen, though Inverness consultants do some clinics and operating lists. Anyone needing more specialized care than the Balfour can offer has to be admitted to Aberdeen, which is an hour away by air, so as much as possible we try to look after patients locally. Patients are usually transferred by scheduled flight, but in an emergency, an Air Ambulance (shown in the picture) may be used. [Return to Top] |
