Clinics & Services 

We provide complete general medical services including:

• Full maternity care
• Contraception (including coil, cap, implant fittings, free condoms, emergency contraception, sterilisation and Depo)
• Minor surgical operations (eg removal of skin cysts)
• Child Health Development Clinics
• Referrals to other health professionals (including Community Psychiatric Nurses, Dietitian, Physiotherapists etc)
• Sexual Health Screening

Practice Clinics

Diabetic Clinic
Our diabetic patients are invited to this clinic annually.

Antenatal Clinic, The Balfour
Appointments from the Maternity Unit,
The Balfour -Tel: 888238

Immunisation Clinics
Childhood Vaccinations - carried out by the Vaccination Team at The Balfour by invitation.

Cardiovascular Disease Clinic
Our patients with either high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or stroke will be invited for an annual ‘MOT’ check once per year with the Nurse.  Appointments are usually by invitation.

Asthma Clinic
Our patients with asthma are invited to this clinic annually which is led by our Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Primary Care Mental Health Nurse

This service offers direct access to a mental health nurse based in the Practice and working as part of the Practice Team.

The Mental Health Nurse will be able to provide assessment and treatment for patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions such as anxiety and low mood.

Patients may be referred to this service after being reviewed by their GP or patients can book direct in to the service by calling the Practice and requesting an appointment.

First Contact Physiotherapy

Do you have a problem that affects your neck, back, bones, joints or muscles?

If yes - would you be happy to speak to a Physiotherapist rather than the GP?

If yes - we can arrange a phone appointment with Graham Boniface, our MSK Physiotherapist here in the Practice

He is able to assess and diagnose what’s going on and provide advice and exercises to help you manage your problem or condition.

This includes: 

• All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries
• Arthritis
• Problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bones eg tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains
• Spinal problems including lower back, mid-back and neck pain
• Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms, eg pins and needles or numbness
• Post-orthopaedic surgery

Please tell the receptionists that you would like an appointment with our Physiotherapist and they will assist you.

Pharmacists in the Practice

NHS Orkney Primary Care Pharmacy Team are a new and exciting addition to our team in Skerryvore Practice. The team are assisting the practice by undertaking medication reviews, service improvement work and will input significantly to safe and effective prescribing in the practice.

You may receive a phone call from one of our pharmacists to review your prescription requests or to carry out one of you annual medication reviews, please be assured the pharmacy team work closely with the doctors, nurses and admin team at Skerryvore to ensure the best possible care is provided by the practice.

Our pharmacy team consists of Lyndsay Steel and Lisa McQueen.  They are highly trained clinical pharmacists with independent prescribing qualifications.  Nicola Tait, Pharmacy Technician works along side the Practice too.

Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing Support

What is the Grampian Psychological Resilience Hub?

The Psychological Resilience Hub is for anyone who has struggled with the impact of Covid-19 on their psychological wellbeing and is for anyone in Grampian or Orkney. It is open 6 days a week Monday – Friday 10am-8pm and Saturdays 10am-6pm.

Visit Grampian Psychological Resilliance Hub You can also call the NHS24 Helpline on 111 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87.   

Other good websites to have a look at includes

https://www.moodcafe.co.uk/

NHS Inform

NHS inform is Scotland's national health information service.  It is designed to help the people in Scotland make informed decisions about their own health.

For information about illnesses, injuries, tests and treatments or healthy living, visit NHS Inform

Patient.co.uk

This website is often used by the GPs to provide information to patients during consultation.  You will find health/disease leaflets, patient support organisations, all about medicines etc 

Visit Patient.co.uk

Arthritis UK/Versus Arthritis

Learn about the causes, symptoms and treatment for different types of Arthritis

Visit Versus Arthritis

Menopause

For information relating to symptoms of the menopause

Visit Menopause Matters

Difficulty sleeping?

Weight Management

Are you worried about your weight?  The waist/height ratio is a simple tool you can perform yourself at home.  All you need is a piece of string.

To find out your waist/height ratio, click on this link Waist/Height Ratio

Essentially if your waist measures more than half your height you are carrying too much fat around your organs and should look to improve your lifestyle.

If you are keen to improve your diet and lose weight, check out the NHS 12 week weight loss programme (link below)

NHS Inform 12-week-weight-management-programme

Another good website to look at would be

The Mediterranean Diet

If you are keen to increase your exercise, walking more is a great start.  Set yourself a step goal and see if you can achieve this.  You may even want to consider a couch to 5k course.

Couch-to-5k

Currently the Kirkwall Parkrun cannot go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions.  However, hopefully it will be able to restart soon.  It welcomes walkers or runners of any ability and is a healthy way to start your weekend with a 5K.  Even if walking or running is not for you, volunteer marshals are always welcomed; they are a friendly and encouraging group.

Dr Sarah's top 10 healthy tips

1. Try and get outside in the fresh air every day, walk, run or just enjoy some sunlight and top up your Vitamin D (not always easy in Orkney - but a waterproof jacket, hat and gloves means most weathers can be embraced)
2. Drink plenty of fluids, if your urine is dark yellow-brown you are not drinking enough.  Aim to drink to thirst, but a rough guide is 6 - 8 glasses per day.  Sometimes people can think they are hungry when they are thirsty, try a glass of water first and if still hungry then have something to eat.
3. Get your vegetables in.  There is lots of controversy over different diets, calorie restriction, low carb, plant based etc.  One thing everyone agrees on is filling your plate with vegetables is good for you!  Vegetables are naturally low calorie and full of vitamins and minerals.  Fruit should also be enjoyed, just be careful not to eat too much as fruits can be high in natural sugars which can cause problems with diabetics.
4. Try and cook meals from scratch.  It's healthier, processed foods are high in sugars and the bad fats.  Learning to cook and try to enjoy experimenting with different ingredients and flavours.  Get the family involved, or if living on your own try batch cooking and freezing portions.  Try to see how colourful you can make your meals.
5. If you feel you need to improve your diet or your lifestyle, reach out and ask for help.  Speak to someone if you have concerns about your weight or eating.  This might be a friend, family, a teacher or coach.
6. Try to sort your sleep routine.  It's been shown that people who get plenty of sleep (over 7 hours a night) are less likely to be overweight 10-tips-to-beat-insomnia 
7. Watch out for emotional eating.  Think about keeping a food journal and note the triggers to overeating.  Once you identify the problem its's easier to address.
8. Avoid evening snacking, brush your teeth earlier to stop you from being tempted by some crisps or chocolate - or better still - don't buy them!
9. Don't drink your calories.  Fizzy juice, alcohol and smoothies should be a special treat, not a regular part of your diet.
10. Love yourself.  You have one body, feed it well, look after it and if you need to make changes to it, do it for you!!

Risk factors for Pre-diabetes and Diabetes

• Your risk increases with age.  You're more at risk if you are white and over 40 or over 25 if you are African-Caribbean, Black African or South Asian
• You are two to six times more likely to get Type 2 Diabetes if you have a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes is two to four times more likely in people of South Asian descent and African-Caribbean or Black African descent.
• You are more at risk if you have ever had high blood pressure
• You are more at risk of Type 2 Diabetes if you are carrying extra weight, especially if this weight is around your middle.
• You had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant

If you have risk factors or are experiencing increased thirst or passing urine more or feeling more tired - contact the Practice to arrange a blood test.

Pre-Diabetes

What is pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes (pre DM) means that your blood sugars are higher than usual, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  Each year in the UK, 5 to 10% of people diagnosed with pre-diabetes go on to develop Type 2 Diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is also called: Borderline Diabetes, Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), Impaired Glucose Regulation (IGR), Non-diabetic Hyperglycaemia.

You can stop Pre-diabetes developing into Type 2 Diabetes by

• Managing your weight
• Eating well
• Avoid or stop smoking
• Reduce your waist measurement (less than 80cm for women/less than 94cm for men)
• Increase physical activity

Diet

If you are overweight and at high risk of Type 2 Diabetes, losing just 5% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk.  There are lots of ways you can lose weight and it's about finding what works best for you.  Making healthier food choices is important.  The NHS offers a free 12 week weight management programme

NHS Inform Healthy Living 12 week weight management programme

Lifestyle

If you spend a lot of time sitting down, this is known as a sedentary lifestyle.  Being sedentary is linked with an increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

Being active in your daily life can help to reduce your risk of Type 2 Diabetes.  Regular physical activity will help manage your weight, reduce your blood glucose levels as well as lowering your cholesterol.  Aim for 30 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous exercise that leaves you slightly breathless at least 5 times per week.  By making these changes, blood sugar levels can be returned to normal.

In fact, the recently completed Diabetes Prevention Programme study conclusively showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of Type 2 Diabetes by making dietary changes and increasing their level of physical activity.

Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with Diabetes you should be seen at least annually in the Skerryvore Diabetic Clinic.  Often blood tests are needed more frequently in Type 1, Type 2 on Insulin or Type 2 diabetics changing oral medications.

At the annual check up

Your Diabetes doctor or nurse will conduct tests for a variety of different diabetic complications.  Annual check ups include:

• eyes (run separately at the hospital)
• Foot checks to check your circulation and any signs of nerve damage
• blood pressure
• blood tests - HbA1c (a measurement of your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months) kidney, liver and thyroid functions and your lipid screen (cholesterol and fat levels in blood)
• Urine to check the protein levels for early signs of kidney damage
• weight
• we will also discuss your lifestyle, exercise levels and diet and help you to better manage these 
• When needed blood sugar monitoring and insulin management will also be discussed.

You will also be referred for diabetic education when available through NHS Orkney.  Sometimes we will also need t refer you to the Dietician, Diabetes Specialist Nurse or Diabetes Consultant at ARI (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary)

Useful resources

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/

https://www.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/

https://www.dietdoctor.com/diabetes

Travel Vaccinations

If you are planning to travel abroad you may require Travel Vaccinations. 

All patients requiring travel vaccines or travel advice should contact Sutherlands Pharmacy by booking online using the following link, Local Travel Vaccines & Health Clinics - Pharmadoctor or by calling (01856) 873240.