"Friendly staff and prompt service at A&E"

Whilst on holiday in Kirkwall I suffered from a bite and an infection on my ankle. Not knowing if it could have been a tick bite and due to the discolouration in the area, I called a local doctor's surgery who advised me to go to A & E at Balfour hospital.

Having never been to an A & E I was unsure what to expect. I was greeted by a friendly member of staff who took my details. Within an hour a junior doctor came to see me and examined the area, took my temperature and then a blood sample.

Shortly after I was seen by a doctor who was able to confirm that it wasn't a tick bite but was a bite that had caused the infection. I received a prescription for antibiotics and was advised that if it should flare up then to come back again.

Whilst waiting to be seen and for the doctor I was able to pop out to my motorhome and check on my dog. The receptionist said it would be fine and she would let the doctor know if they came back to see me before I returned.