A LETTER demanding decisive action at one of the worst accident blackspots in the region has been sent to the Scottish Government by the chairman of NHS Borders and the leader of Scottish Borders Council.

John Raine and Councillor David Parker wrote the letter to Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport and Islands, asking the Government to resolve concerns around the road junction at the entrance to Borders General Hospital (BGH).

The junction connecting the BGH to the Melrose Bypass (A6091 road) has seen seven separate injury accidents since improvements were made to the road junction in 2011.

Before those improvements were made, for the comparable period, a total of six injury accidents were recorded.

There have also been a number of minor accidents which do not form part of statistics.

Mr Raine said: “I have received considerable representation from staff and patients at the BGH about concerns at the road junction and the regular accidents that take place there. 

“There are very real worries about the entrance to the BGH and it is completely unacceptable that the region’s only hospital should have an accident blackspot at its entrance.”

Cllr Parker added: “In 2012, SBC united across the political spectrum to call on Transport Scotland to take action at the BGH entrance.

“At that time minor tweaks were made, but these have clearly not worked and something more substantial has to be done. 

“The road junction at the BGH is in my ward, and as well as my own constituents who regularly raise concerns, a great many people from communities across the Borders have made representations to me about the unacceptable nature of the junction and the many accidents which happen there.”

Dr John Reid, a consultant radiologist at the hospital, said: "The Health Board tried to get something done about it ten years ago, and again five years ago, but both times action was blocked by Transport Scotland.

"They did change the layout some time ago by making it 'left-turn only' out of the junction, but this hasn't helped."

Mr Raine and Cllr Parker have also extended an invitation to the Minister to visit BGH to discuss the concerns on site at the hospital.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “A scheme to improve road safety at the junction of the A6091 at Borders General Hospital was introduced in December 2011.

“The scheme involved altering the junction layout, along with changing the signage, to prohibit traffic from turning right onto the A6091 from the Borders General Hospital access. As part of our annual road safety assessment, locations such as this are monitored to assess the effectiveness of our measures.

“Our most recent assessment has highlighted this junction for a further investigation which will be undertaken in April this year.”