Top 10 Best Clinics in Orkney Islands

Primary Care Across the Islands

For most people in Orkney, healthcare starts at a local GP practice or community clinic. These practices manage everything from routine check-ups and long-term conditions to vaccinations, minor injuries and referrals to specialist services. On smaller isles, the local surgery may be the only healthcare facility, with doctors and nurses providing a broad range of services and, in many cases, dispensing medicines directly.

NHS Orkney oversees primary care across the archipelago, and practices work closely with The Balfour hospital in Kirkwall. The clinics below represent key access points for residents across Mainland and the isles.

What Island Clinics Offer

Typical services include GP consultations, practice nurse appointments, chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes and asthma, cervical screening, childhood immunisations, travel health advice and minor procedures. Many practices also host visiting services, such as midwives, health visitors and community psychiatric nurses.

The Top 10 Clinics in Orkney

1. Heilendi Medical Practice

Heilendi Medical Practice is based within The Balfour in Kirkwall and serves a large patient population. Its location alongside hospital services enables close coordination with diagnostics and specialist clinics.

2. Skerryvore Practice

Skerryvore Practice is another major Kirkwall GP practice, also located at The Balfour. It provides comprehensive primary care with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and allied professionals.

3. Stromness Surgery

Stromness Surgery serves the town of Stromness and surrounding West Mainland communities. It offers GP and nursing services for a mix of long-standing residents, students and seasonal workers.

4. Dounby Surgery

Dounby Surgery provides primary care for central and northern parts of West Mainland. Its rural setting means it supports many farming families and residents of scattered communities.

5. St Margaret's Hope Surgery

St Margaret's Hope Surgery on South Ronaldsay serves the South Isles linked to Mainland by the Churchill Barriers, providing care to communities on Burray and South Ronaldsay.

6. Hoy and Walls Surgery

The surgery on Hoy serves residents of Hoy, Walls and nearby islands. Practitioners in isolated settings like this provide a broad scope of care and are often first responders in emergencies.

7. Westray Surgery

Westray Surgery provides GP care for one of the most populous North Isles. The practice plays a vital role in community health, supporting residents who would otherwise need to travel by ferry or plane to Kirkwall.

8. Sanday Surgery

Sanday Surgery delivers primary care to the island of Sanday, offering consultations, nursing support and access to medicines for a remote community.

9. Stronsay Surgery

Stronsay Surgery serves residents of Stronsay and supports nearby smaller islands. Like other isles practices, it combines general practice with a strong community focus.

10. Shapinsay Surgery

Shapinsay Surgery provides health services for an island community just a short ferry ride from Kirkwall, ensuring residents can access routine care without leaving the island.

Trends in Orkney Primary Care

Primary care in Orkney is embracing multidisciplinary teams, including advanced nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physiotherapists and mental health workers, so patients can see the right professional first time. Video consultations through NHS Near Me are widely used, particularly for patients on the outer isles. Practices are also using digital tools for repeat prescriptions and appointment requests. Recruitment to remote practices remains challenging, and NHS Orkney continues to explore innovative staffing models.

Tips for Accessing Care

Register with the practice that covers your address as soon as you move to Orkney. Visitors needing care can contact a local practice or call NHS 24 on 111 for advice. Use your local pharmacy or dispensing practice for minor ailments through the Pharmacy First service. In an emergency, always call 999. Because practice details and services change from time to time, confirm current arrangements with NHS Orkney or your local surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register with a GP practice in Orkney?

Contact the practice that covers your address and complete a registration form, usually with proof of identity and address. Your medical records will then be transferred from your previous practice. Register promptly so you can access care when you need it.

Can I see a GP if I am visiting Orkney on holiday?

Visitors can be seen as temporary residents by a local practice for urgent problems. Out of hours, NHS 24 on 111 provides advice and can arrange appointments with the out-of-hours service when necessary.

What is NHS Near Me?

NHS Near Me is Scotland's secure video consultation service. It allows patients to attend appointments from home or a local clinic using a phone, tablet or computer, saving long journeys for people living on the outer isles.

Do island surgeries provide emergency care?

Island practitioners often act as first responders, working with the Scottish Ambulance Service and air ambulance teams. In any emergency, always call 999 first.

Conclusion

Orkney's GP practices and clinics are the cornerstone of island healthcare, delivering personal, community-centred care across Mainland and the isles. From large practices at The Balfour to small island surgeries, these clinics ensure residents receive high-quality care close to home, supported by a wider network of hospital and specialist services.