New outpatient area to open in January

A £250,000 project to create a new Outpatient area at the Balfour Hospital has been completed and will open to patients in early January.

Christina Bichan, transformational change & improvement manager, said: “The project has involved establishing eight outpatient rooms, to accommodate service back to Orkney, and to facilitate new ways of working, such as the introduction of virtual clinics enabling patients to be seen closer to home and so avoiding the need for travel outwith Orkney.”

This is the second development that NHS Orkney have been able to create in this area, following the opening of the new surgical room in the spring.

Cathie Cowan, chief executive, added that the upgraded area would enable staff to prepare for the transition to the new hospital and healthcare facility.