BETTER HEALTH, BETTER CARE, BETTER HERE

“The best at what we do”

NHS Western Isles will work actively with patients, the public and our partners to improve our community's health and wellbeing, to tackle inequalities, and to deliver high quality, reliable clinical services.

The Western Isles is an archipelago of 11 populated islands located 40 miles off the North West coast of Scotland, and is 130 miles long from the Butt of Lewis in the North to the Isle of Barra in the South.

The resident population of the Western Isles of 26,350 people (2006) is spread over 280 townships. Individual island populations are:

Isle of Lewis ~ 18,565 of which approximately 8,000 live in or around Stornoway
Isle of Harris ~ 1,994
North Uist ~ 1,565
Isle of Benbecula ~ 1,273
South Uist ~ 1,884
Isle of Barra & Vatersay ~ 1,149

GP PRACTICES

There are 12 GP practices (with approximately 35 General Practitioners) throughout the Western Isles providing primary care services to the community. A number of GPs provide additional support in specialist areas such as Dermatology, Cardiology, Learning Disabilities, Child Protection, Public Health, Anaesthetics and Paediatric services, in partnership with the Western Isles Hospitals. The GPs and their staff work closely with a range of community health staff such as district nurses, community midwives, health visitors, Allied Health Professionals (Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Podiatry), community mental health services and health promotion services. Community based dental services are also provided across the islands.

HOSPITAL CARE

NHS Western Isles NHS has 3 Hospitals. The largest is the Western Isles Hospital, a rural general hospital located in Stornoway. It was opened in 1992 with a range of hospital acute specialities, psychiatry and care of the elderly. Some consultant led services are provided in the Western Isles hospital by consultants based in mainland hospitals. The hospital also includes diagnostic facilities, day hospital, laboratory and Allied Health Professionals and other services.

The Uist & Barra Hospital is located in Benbecula, and was opened in 2001. It provides a local service for the population of the Southern Isles. The Hospital has 29 beds, and provides care of the elderly, GP Acute and Midwifery led maternity services. Many of the Consultants from the Western Isles Hospital, and some from mainland Boards, visit the Uist & Barra Hospital to provide outpatient services.

St Brendan’s Hospital, with 5 beds, is located in Castlebay on the Isle of Barra and is in a shared building with a Local Authority Residential facility. It is supported by the local GP Practice to provide care of the elderly and other services.