About The Organisation
NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you're new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.
Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We're also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.
We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.
About Orkney
With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it's a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK's best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that's both fulfilling and inspiring.
The Position And The Candidate
Would you like to put your clinical pharmacy skills into practice and be supported to become an expert in medicines as part of a multidisciplinary team in the beautiful location of the Orkney Islands?
This post provides an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join our team of pharmacists and technicians providing a high standard of pharmaceutical care to the population of Orkney.
You will develop knowledge, skills and experience working across General Medicine, General Surgery, High Dependency, Cancer Services, Day Unit, Outpatients, Accident and Emergency and Maternity working within The Balfour, NHS Orkney's Hospital and Healthcare facility.
You will have the opportunity to gain experience in specialist visiting services including, ophthalmology, renal, and dermatology and undertake cross-sector experience with our General Practice team.
Pharmacy Services within Orkney are forward thinking and encourage innovative ways of working to improve the delivery of patient care to the populations of Orkney's mainland and 12 inhabited outer Isles.
You will be supported to undertake the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Enhanced Curriculum and Independent Prescribers qualification (if necessary) as part of your training.
As well as an interesting role, you will be able to live in one of Scotland's most beautiful unspoilt islands with low pollution and crime, excellent schools, a unique culture, and amazing scenery.
You must be a good team worker with the ability to act independently. You will possess excellent communication and organisational skills and be a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The post will include public holiday cover and on-call / weekend duties where applicable
Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:
This post will be based at The Balfour
The successful candidate will work: Full Time 37 hours per week - NHS Scotland is reducing their full time working week from 37 to 36 hours per week from 1 April 2026 but with no change in pay. This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff.
This post is Permanent
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.
Benefits And Salary
Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
The salary for this post is Band 6 and if residing on Orkney, you'll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,657 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.
NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.
Further Information
If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we'd love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact
For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.
To find out more about this opportunity please contact Russell Mackay, HEPMA and Systems Lead Pharmacist on
This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check.
NHS Orkney is an equal opportunities employer committed to advancing equality and particularly welcomes applications from groups of people currently underrepresented within the workforce. We are a committed participant in the Disability Confident Leader Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for our vacancies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies.
Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.
Please note this advert may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Interview Date: Week Commencing 6th April 2026