Sexual health services in Orkney praised

Sexual health services in Orkney have been commended by a national standards body.

A report to be published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland highlights the strengths of service delivery across the county.

The inspectors were particularly impressed with the commitment and dedication of the small team. They also acknowledged the service “model” and Orkney’s innovative approach to remote and rural sexual health issues.

Maureen Sutherland, clinical governance facilitator for the health board, said: “Prior to the team’s visit, staff in Orkney undertook a substantial piece of work to submit evidence, detailing what we had done to meet specific standards over the past three to five years.”

GP Anne Nicolson, NHS Orkney’s sexual health lead clinician and one of the sexual health service doctors, added: “Over the past few years we have been working hard to come up with a way to provide sexual health services in the community that is suited to Orkney.

“It is important to us that people have some level of choice of sexual health service provider, and good access to the services available locally.

“The report highlights that we have gone a long way to achieving this, with services provided in the community through pharmacies, GP surgeries, the Balfour Hospital and, of course, the Sexual Health Service.”