LOCAL and national politicians have expressed concern after NHS Borders confirmed that a review of its services, driven by “financial pressures”, is to include the region’s four community hospitals.

Peebles Community Council will meet tomorrow (Thursday) to consider the implications for 23-bed Hay Lodge, its chairman Alasdair Stewart predicting “total opposition” to any closure plan which may arise from the review process.

“It’s not difficult to forecast our reaction,” said Mr Stewart. “We hear a lot about joined up thinking, but any plan to close Hay Lodge would be the epitome of dysfunctional thinking in a town where there are approved plans for hundreds of new houses.

“It would be an extraordinary situation to lose Hay Lodge.” Kelso Community Council was due to meet last night to discuss its reaction to the Inch Road facility, also with 23 beds, coming under scrutiny.

Chairman John Bassett told us: “We’re told it’s best for people to be treated at home, but I can assure you that for the vast majority of the very ill patients in Kelso, going home is simply not an option.” Last week’s health board statement conceded: “NHS Borders faces significant financial challenges. In order to maintain the quality and coverage that we provide, we are currently reviewing the way we deliver all our services including, but not exclusively, looking at how care is provided from our four community hospitals.” The statement spoke of the opportunity to “transform traditional models of delivery by exploring new models of care” and cited a project piloted in other health board areas which enabled patients to be cared for in their own homes.

“Any major service changes will be subject to employee and public consultation,” concluded the statement.

Along with Kelso and Peebles, the community hospitals in Duns and Hawick are also being reviewed. Between them they provide nearly 100 beds for local patients along with over 30 “day hospital” places.

In a radio interview Dr Sheena MacDonald, medical director of NHS Borders, said: “If we can reduce our spending on buildings and overheads for heating and lighting, this will allow us to use the same amount of resource for a much larger group of people by investing in more staff.” Tory MSP John Lamont and: “The removal of these important facilities would be deeply unwelcome and unpopular” Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume commented: “Communities will be rightly concerned any review could lead to the closure of these hospitals which have become a valuable and much loved health resource.” The SNP’s Christine Grahame MSP told us: “I fully support community hospitals, but this is an issue for NHS Borders who like all public bodies is facing tough decisions because of financial constraints.

“It really is hypocritical for the Tories and Lib Dems - with another £37m in cuts to come from Westminster - to weep crocodile tears.” The Health Board has commissioned a report for its February 2015 meeting to establish how the review should be taken forward, starting with a review of the services provided by Community Hospitals. This, it insists, will include proposals for effective engagement with the public, staff, and other stakeholders, along with timescales for the programme.

Dr MacDonald said: “We know our Community Hospitals are highly regarded in the localities but the review will need to look at the way all our in-patient services are used and how Community Hospitals work as part of the whole system of healthcare alongside other health and social care services in the community.” “Eventually we hope to have reviewed all our clinical services to ensure we are making best use of resources as well as opportunities for improvement and the Board can give a categorical assurance that any changes would be widely consulted upon.”