NHS Orkney looking at drafting in army medics

A project looking at how the Army and NHS Orkney could work together to develop placement opportunities on Orkney is now gathering pace.

NHS Orkney Chief Executive Cathie Cowan has been working with the Ministry of Defence to offer remote placements to nurses − advanced nurse practitioners − and doctors.

Ms Cowan said: “Orkney offers a unique experience to highly qualified nurses and doctors looking to develop their decision making skills working as autonomous practitioners. The scheme would be similar to the remote and rural fellowship educational placements we have for GPs. I am delighted discussions that began almost ten months ago are now likely to come to fruition.”

Col David McArthur, the Military Medical Liaison Officer to Scottish Government, stated: “These types of partnership are vital to maintaining our operational preparedness and offer benefits for all concerned, civilian and military.”

NHS Orkney’s medical and nurse directors will now develop and implement this idea, and Ms Cowan hopes to see placements beginning later in the year.