Last updated on: Thursday, 25 November 2004 18:13

Local Health Service        Aberdeen Health Service        Orkney Kidney Patient Association        Other

Local Health Service

Orkney is served by a small general hospital providing surgical, maternity and medical services. The local hospital, the Balfour, is equipped with a modern operating theatre, laboratory, physiotherapy and radiology departments. There are NO renal services available locally.

Orkney is well served in primary care and many of the islands have their own GP. The GP's also provide medical cover for the hospital and most of the practices based out of the two main towns are dispensing practices.

All patients with renal disease are referred to Aberdeen for specialist diagnostics, consultant appointments, treatment and training for home dialysis. All surgical procedures relating to kidney disease are also carried out in Aberdeen as is the treatment for peritonitis.

 If haemodialysis is the only treatment suitable, then unless it can be managed at home, the patient is faced with having to move to another area where hospital based dialysis is available.

Home haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis ( both APD and CAPD ) is available to patients in Orkney, but is monitored and reviewed by Aberdeen. Orkney currently has the reverse of the national trend in treatment of renal failure, most patients receive peritoneal dialysis due to the lack of a hospital based haemodialysis unit.

Orkney Health Services can be contacted on 01856885400.

Aberdeen Health Service

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