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SCOTLAND · PEOPLE, PLACES & SERVICES

Western Isles · NHS health board

Population, health and care services for Western Isles, Scotland, with dated sources and counting notes.

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Population and demographics

Mid-2025 population estimate: 25,770 people.

Population by age and sex
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal
0–5596 (2.3%)525 (2.0%)1,121 (4.4%)
6–232,278 (8.8%)2,043 (7.9%)4,321 (16.8%)
24–666,885 (26.7%)7,032 (27.3%)13,917 (54.0%)
67+2,974 (11.5%)3,437 (13.3%)6,411 (24.9%)
All ages12,733 (49.4%)13,037 (50.6%)25,770 (100.0%)

Every percentage is a share of the total area population. Percentages are rounded and may not sum to 100%. Age endpoints are inclusive. Council and health-board figures describe the same population and must not be added together.

Source: NRS population estimates via Public Health Scotland

Population projections, 2022–2047

The 2022-based principal projection is a trend-based scenario, not a prediction. Its 2022 base is separate from the mid-2025 estimates above; the series are not joined. Published 2025-09-30.

Source: National Records of Scotland projections
Projected population: selected years
YearMaleFemaleTotal
202212,93213,18826,120
203012,68012,75525,435
203512,42812,39924,827
204012,15312,03224,185
204711,79211,52623,318
All annual projections, 2022–2047
2022-based projected population
YearMaleFemaleTotal
202212,93213,18826,120
202312,90713,13426,041
202412,87513,08525,960
202512,85913,04425,903
202612,83212,99125,823
202712,79812,94325,741
202812,76412,88425,648
202912,72112,82225,543
203012,68012,75525,435
203112,63012,67725,307
203212,58212,60825,190
203312,53712,53125,068
203412,48412,46524,949
203512,42812,39924,827
203612,37212,32924,701
203712,31712,24924,566
203812,26312,17824,441
203912,21312,10524,318
204012,15312,03224,185
204112,10811,96224,070
204212,05711,87823,935
204312,00111,81123,812
204411,95111,74223,693
204511,89711,66823,565
204611,84311,59623,439
204711,79211,52623,318

Health and care services

Counts describe listed practices or services at their recorded locations, not the number of buildings, staff or available appointments. The categories are separate and are not combined into a health-services grand total.

GP practices

Listed records: 9.

Source: Public Health Scotland · 2026-07-01

Original publication

Practices counted once at their published main address; branch surgeries are not separately counted. Registered patients may live outside this council. Types describe the GP contract. Practice websites are not supplied in this release.

Browse GP practices (9)
  • Barra Medical Practice

    2C

    Barra Medical Practice, Clach Mhile Surgery, Castlebay, Isle Of Barra, HS9 5XD

  • Benbecula Medical Practice

    2C

    Benbecula Medical Practice, Sorelle Lodge Surgery, Griminish, Isle Of Benbecula, HS7 5QA

  • Broadbay Medical Practice

    GMS

    Broadbay Medical Practice, 16 Francis Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2XB

  • Langabhat Medical Practice

    GMS

    Langabhat Medical Practice, Leurbost, Lochs, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9JP

  • North Harris Medical Practice

    17C

    North Harris Medical Practice, The Surgery, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3BG

  • North Uist Medical Practice

    17C

    North Uist Medical Practice, The Surgery, Lochmaddy, Isle Of North Uist, HS6 5AE

  • South Harris Medical Practice

    GMS

    South Harris Medical Practice, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle Of Harris, HS5 3UA

  • South Uist Medical Practice

    GMS

    South Uist Medical Practice, Daliburgh, Isle Of South Uist, HS8 5SS

  • The Group Practice

    GMS

    The Group Practice, Springfield Road, Stornoway, Isle Of Lewis, HS1 2PS

NHS dental practices

Listed records: 5.

Source: Public Health Scotland · 2026-03-31

Original publication

Active NHS dental practices at the snapshot date; may also offer private care. Counts practices, not individual dentists. Inclusion does not mean the practice is accepting new NHS patients. Registration counts are not council resident counts.

Browse NHS dental practices (5)
  • CASTLEVIEW DENTAL PRACTICE

    NHS dental practice

    79 CROMWELL STREET, STORNOWAY,ISLE OF LEWIS, HS1 2DG

  • NORTH HARRIS HEALTH HUB

    NHS dental practice

    TARBERT, ISLE OF HARRIS, HS3 3BG

  • THE DENTAL CLINIC

    NHS dental practice

    ST BRENDANS HOSPITAL, CASTLEBAY BARRA, HS9 5XE

  • UIST & BARRA DENTAL HUB

    NHS dental practice

    BALIVANICH, ISLE OF BENBECULA, HS7 5QA

  • WESTERN ISLES DENTAL CLINIC

    NHS dental practice

    MACAULAY ROAD, STORNOWAY, ISLE OF LEWIS, HS1 2TJ

Care homes

Listed records: 10.

Source: Care Inspectorate · 2026-08-31

Original publication

Active registered Care Home Services, including adult and children’s services. Counts are services, not necessarily separate buildings. Registered places are capacity, not occupancy. Contact details withheld by the source remain withheld. Individual website links are not supplied in the export.

Browse Care homes (10)
  • Action for Children - Hillcrest

    Voluntary or Not for Profit · Children & Young People

    Contact details withheld by the source.

  • Ardseileach

    Local Authority · Learning Disabilities

    Macdonald Road, Stornoway, HS1 2YT

  • Bethesda Care Home

    Voluntary or Not for Profit · Older People

    Springfield Road, Stornoway, HS1 2PS

  • Harris House (Care Home)

    Local Authority · Older People

    Leverhulme Road, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DD

  • Leverburgh Care Home

    Voluntary or Not for Profit · Older People

    Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA

  • Rowantree House

    Local Authority · Children & Young People

    Contact details withheld by the source.

  • St Brendan's (Care Home)

    Local Authority · Older People

    St. Brendan's Home, Castlebay, Isle of Barra, HS9 5XE

  • Taigh Shiphoirt

    Local Authority · Older People

    Sinclair Avenue, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2AP

  • Taigh a Chridhe Uile Naomh

    Local Authority · Older People

    Daliburgh, Isle of South Uist, HS8 5SS

  • Trianaid (Care Home)

    Local Authority · Older People

    Carinish, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5EJ

NHS hospitals

Listed records: 3.

Source: Public Health Scotland · 2026-09-03

Original publication

Current NHS hospital-location records, including non-acute hospitals and specialist/resource centres classified in this reference file. Private hospitals are excluded. Hospital types and individual websites are not supplied in this release.

Browse NHS hospitals (3)
  • St Brendans Cot Hospital

    Horve, Isle of Barra, HS9 5XE

  • Uist & Barra Hospital

    Balivanich, Isle of Benbecula, HS7 5LA

  • Western Isles Hospital

    Macaulay Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2AF

NHS workforce

Census: 2026-06-30 · Published: 2026-09-01

Board total: 1,139 staff; 944.83 whole-time equivalents (WTE).

Headcounts are distinct within each group; one person may appear in more than one group. Do not add group headcounts or board headcounts. WTE is rounded for display.

Workforce by staff group
Staff groupHeadcountWTE
Nursing & midwifery472389.61
Administrative services222198.46
Support services166122.94
Allied health professions10887.93
Medical & dental5446.20
Medical & dental support5041.68
Other therapeutic services2924.43
Healthcare science2622.20
Personal & social care1311.39

Directorate data are unavailable in this export; service-delivery location reporting is paused by the publisher. Medical specialties and other staff subgroups remain available in the map and downloadable workforce file.

Source: NHS Education for Scotland / Public Services Delivery Scotland

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