Heilendi Practice

19/02/2026

Pharmacy First: quicker help for common conditions

Did you know your local pharmacy can help with many everyday health problems — no GP appointment needed?

Pharmacists can advise on and treat things like:
🤧 Coughs & colds
👂 Earache
🦠 UTIs
🌸 Hay fever
🧴 Skin conditions

Using Pharmacy First Scotland means faster care for you — and helps keep GP appointments free for those who need them most.

👉 Find out more:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/pharmacy/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland/

Not sure where to go? Your local pharmacy is often a great first stop

16/02/2026

It’s Cancer Prevention Week 🎗️
Here’s the hopeful bit: many cases of cancer don’t need to happen.

Research suggests that around 40% of cancers could be prevented by making changes to everyday things we can influence – what experts call modifiable risks.

Small changes can make a real difference, like:
🏃‍♀️ Moving more
🥦 Eating more veg, fruit, wholegrains and beans
🍔 Cutting back on fast food
🥩 Limiting red & processed meat
🥤 Reducing sugary drinks
🍷 Drinking less alcohol
🚭 Not smoking
☀️ Staying safe in the sun
🤱 Breastfeeding if you can
💙 Following healthy lifestyle advice after a cancer diagnosis, where possible

You’ll find practical tips and guidance here from the World Cancer Research Fund: https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-prevention/our-cancer-prevention-recommendations/

Our website also links to trusted local cancer support including CLAN and ICJ, and national guidance via NHS Inform: https://heilendipractice.co.uk/health-information/

It’s not about doing everything – it’s about doing something. And knowing help is there when you need it

14/02/2026

This Valentine’s Day, love includes looking after your health

Whether you’re in a long-term relationship, dating, or just focusing on yourself, sexual health is an important part of overall wellbeing.

Regular STI screening helps:
• Protect your health
• Prevent infections being passed on
• Give peace of mind — even if you feel well

Many STIs don’t cause symptoms, so testing can be important even when everything feels fine.

Support and information
Our website shares trusted sexual health information and links to services, so you can get the right advice, testing and support when you need it — confidentially and without judgement: https://heilendipractice.co.uk/patient-resources/

Looking after your health is an act of care — for yourself and for others

11/02/2026

This FREE in person programme for parents & carers in Orkney starts next month! More details on the programme and how to sign up below...

🌟 HENRY: Healthy Families Right from the Start
FREE in person programme for parents & carers in Orkney

Are you a parent or carer looking for trusted, friendly support to help your family build healthy habits, boost wellbeing, and enjoy more positive routines at home?

Join us for a friendly, supportive eight week programme designed to help your family build healthier habits together.

🗓 Tuesdays:
3rd March • 10th March • 17th March • 24th March • 31st March • 21st April • 28th April • 5th May

⏰ Time: 10am – 12pm
📍 Location: The Balfour (In person)

Discover practical tips on:
✔ Building healthy routines
✔ Positive mealtime habits
✔ Emotional wellbeing
✔ Physical activity and play
✔ Understanding your child’s needs

💬 How to sign up:
Email ork.henry@nhs.scot
or complete the online form: 🔗forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=veDvEDCgykuAnLXmdF5JmmlLhqPmy0hMgimAkcypuaRUMkVQWkNVWEkxTThZQUVVMDhGVkdCQjRBUS4u&route=shorturl

✨ Everyone is welcome – come along, learn, share and have fun!

09/02/2026

Spring is on the way 🌱

The days are slowly getting lighter — and in Orkney, where winter daylight can feel especially short, that small change really matters.

For many people, the tail end of winter can still feel heavy.
Low light levels, tiredness and long dark spells can take their toll, even as we edge closer to spring.

Did you know?
Kirkwall library offers Winter Wellness Kits, designed to help people through the darker months with simple comforts and practical wellbeing support: https://orkneylibrary.org.uk/wintering-well-kits/

You’ll also find trusted mental health and wellbeing resources on our website if you need a bit of extra help — whether that’s self-care advice, local support, or knowing when to reach out: https://heilendipractice.co.uk/health-information/

Spring doesn’t arrive all at once — and neither does feeling better.
Be kind to yourself, take things gently, and remember support is there 🌼

04/02/2026

When it’s blowing a hoolie and the winter weather feels relentless, it can really wear you down — especially with short days and ongoing disruption.

If you’re feeling anxious or low, you’re not alone. Our website shares trusted mental health and wellbeing support, including local and national helplines if you need someone to talk to: https://heilendipractice.co.uk/health-information/

It’s okay to ask for help. Support is there

02/02/2026

Today is National Sickie Day 🤧

The first Monday in February is often noted as one of the days with the highest number of sick days taken across the UK – as winter bugs, dark mornings and tiredness all start to add up.

If you’re genuinely unwell, rest and recovery are important.

A quick reminder that you can self-certify for the first 7 days of illness, so you don’t need a sick note from the surgery during that time.

If you do need a sick note after 7 days, these can be requested online via our website – no need to phone the practice.

Using the online form helps to:
• Make requests quicker and easier for patients
• Reduce waiting in phone queues
• Support our team to manage requests efficiently

Thank you, as always, for helping us look after the community – and for using our online services where you can.

Take care and keep well.

30/01/2026

Many common requests can be handled quickly and easily through our website — without needing to phone the surgery.

You can:
📝 Request sick / fit notes
📄 Find health information and support
🔍 Get advice for non-urgent health concerns

Using the website can save you time, and helps keep phone lines free for patients who need urgent help.

Explore our online services here: https://heilendipractice.co.uk

27/01/2026

Living with a long-term condition can take up a lot of headspace.

Our Patient Resources page brings together trusted information and tools for conditions like:
• Diabetes
• Chronic pain
• Menopause
• Prostate health

These resources are there to help you understand your health and feel more in control: https://heilendipractice.co.uk/patient-resources/

25/01/2026

This Burns Night, we’re grateful for our patients and our wonderful staff, and wishing everyone across Orkney good health, warmth and simple comforts through the winter.

Happy Burns Night from all of us at Heilendi

21/01/2026

In December, we welcomed 26 new patients to the practice — and over a third registered using the online form on our website.

👋 Welcome to all our new patients — we’re glad to have you with us.
And thank you to everyone who’s using our online website forms. We hope they’re making things easier for you. They also help our team to process new patient registrations and routine requests more efficiently, especially during busy winter months.

💻 You can find our registration form and other online services here: https://heilendipractice.co.uk/

Thanks for helping us support patients and staff across our community

19/01/2026

Today is often called Blue Monday — a reminder that this time of year can feel heavy for many people.

If you’re feeling low, stressed or overwhelmed, you don’t have to manage it alone. There’s local and national support available, including:
• Breathing Space
• Samaritans
• Local counselling and support services

You can find links and contact details on our website: https://heilendipractice.co.uk/patient-resources/

NHS inform also has some great resources: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health