Borders hospital beds closure threat over safety concerns

There are 92 community hospital beds in the Scottish Borders across four sites in Kelso, Duns, Hawick and Peebles.

Agreements have been in place with nearby GP practices to provide medical cover for patients.

GPs in Kelso withdrew from the arrangement in April due to an increased workload within their own surgeries.

At the same time contracted medical cover in Duns came to an end.

Members of the Health and Social Care Partnership, who are responsible for delivering GP in-patient services, were also warned this week that arrangements at the other two community hospitals were under threat.

Dr Rachel Mollart, who is a GP in Selkirk, said: “Because of the current GP workload it is feared that similar withdrawals will happen in Peebles and Hawick.”