Heilendi and Skerryvore open for emergencies only

UPDATED:

A recent national server upgrade is causing some unavoidable and significant challenges to GP Practices across Orkney, NHS Orkney has warned.

Those affected are Stromness, Rousay, Heilendi, Skerryvore, St Margaret’s Hope and the Orcades practices. Due to this, both Heilendi and Skerryvore GP Practices will be open for emergency services only today (Friday, July 14).

NHS Orkney says that all involved are working hard to resolve these issues as soon as possible and everyone’s cooperation is appreciated while they do so.

The health authority are asking that people only contact Skerryvore and Heilendi for emergency issues and not routine enquiries — queries regarding repeat prescriptions will not be dealt with today. However, all pre-booked appointments will still go ahead, as scheduled.

If you have ordered your prescription on Wednesday or Thursday from the health centres affected, please allow an additional 2-3 days for this to be available. If you urgently require medicines, or cannot wait the additional time, your community pharmacy can support you with your prescription request. Please use this only if necessary.

If anyone has ordered prescriptions on Wednesday or Thursday from the health centres affected, it will take longer for the medication to be available. As a result, NHSO ask that you allow an additional 2-3 days for this to be available.

If you urgently require medicines, or cannot wait the additional time, the health authority advise that your community pharmacy can support you with your prescription request. However, NHS Orkney ask that you use this only if necessary.

If you do need medical advice, the health authority asks that you seek guidance from NHS Inform at https://www.nhsinform.scot/symptoms-and-self-help or, call NHS24 on 111. For medical emergencies, call 999.

Providing an update on Friday morning about how each practice is being affected, NHS Orkney said that Skerryvore and Heilendi should be contacted for emergency issues only, and not routine enquiries. Calls about repeat prescriptions will not be dealt with today.

Stromness surgery should only be contacted today if your issue is urgent or an emergency. The health authority is also asking patients to only order repeat prescription items if these are absolutely necessary, and to allow an extra 1-2 days before collecting from the chemist. All pre-booked appointments will still go ahead, please attend as scheduled.

If you are trying to contact the Rousay and Orcades surgeries, NHSO ask that you be aware there is likely to be delays in arranging appointments and requests for prescriptions.

All pre-booked appointments will still go ahead across the GP Practices unless you have been contacted otherwise.