Beds at community hospitals in Scottish Borders could be withdrawn over safety concerns

Beds at community hospitals in the Borders could be withdrawn unless safety assurances can be given.

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

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

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

A spokesperson confirmed that NHS Borders has started a review in conjunction with the Integration Joint Board of the “provided services” – to ensure that they are “fit for the future”.

They said: “In conjunction with the Integration Joint Board NHS Borders has started a review of the services we provide from our Community Hospitals to ensure these are fit for the future.

“This will take into account the changing needs of our population, the changing way in which healthcare is provided and the benefits of providing more care in the community.

“In parallel with this we have had to identify alternative ways of providing medical cover for the patients in two of our Community Hospitals (Kelso and the Knoll, Duns) and have not yet been able to identify a long term solution for this.

“It is essential that patients in hospital have appropriate medical input so we need to find a safe and sustainable way to do this which balances the needs of patients and patient safety across the system.

“Any decisions made will be informed by clinical advice.”