Borders General Hospital emergency department under 'significant pressure'

A health board is warning its accident and emergency department is under “significant pressure”.

NHS Borders said the Borders General Hospital in Melrose is “exceptionally busy”, and facing high attendances and a number of people waiting to be admitted.

Chiefs are urging people to only attend the A&E for life-threatening emergencies, adding those who do need to attend may need to wait longer to be seen.

The health board is advising people with health concerns to seek the right care in the right place.

It said that includes NHS Inform self-help guides, community pharmacies and NHS 24 on 111.

There’s also a walk-in clinic at Hawick Community Hospital for patients registered with Jedburgh and Newcastleton Health Centre’s and Mairches, Selkirk and Teviot Medical Practices.

The health board said: “If your family member is fit to be discharged from hospital, you can help by being available to collect them or support their move to their next place of care.

“This helps us get the flow through our hospitals moving and offer care to the maximum amount of people who need it.”