NHS Borders has issued a further assurance that the public will be fully consulted over changes to the way in-patient care is provided in the region.

The health board says a timescale for “effective engagement” will be announced when it meets next month.

And a spokesperson has reiterated that “at no stage has the board stated its intention to close community hospitals”.

The future of the four 23-bed facilities in Kelso, Hawick, Peebles and Duns has been the subject of speculation since NHS Borders revealed that a review of all its clinical services, including in-patient provision, was being undertaken.

Last month, board chairman John Raine gave Scottish Borders Council an assurance that any programme of change would be subject to full public consultation through SBC’s network of area forums.

Despite that commitment, local Conservative MSP John Lamont demanded last week that local people should have the chance to directly question NHS Borders bosses when the findings of the review are published.

Mr Lamont, bidding to oust Michael Moore in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk in May’s General Election, revealed he had written to Mr Raine seeking a guarantee that when proposals are announced, senior health managers should go to Hawick, Kelso and Duns in his constituency and enter a “face-to-face dialogue with local people”.

“It is all too easy for administrators to come up with plans which may look good on paper, but NHS Borders must hear directly the concerns I an getting from patients and staff that closures would be damaging,” said Mr Lamont.

“It is right that NHS Borders looks at making positive changes to the services it provides, but closing down busy local hospitals, at a time when the Borders General Hospital is so busy, is not the right move.” Responding, a health board spokesperson stated: “NHS Borders would like to reiterate that, at no stage, has the board stated its intention to close community hospitals.

“In a media statement issued on December 9, the board’s intention to begin a review of all clinical services, in order to ensure the continuation of safe, effective and high quality health services to the people of the Borders, was announced.

“A report has been commissioned for the February meeting of the board to establish how best the review, including a review of in-patient services, should be taken forward. This is a not a focus on community hospitals. This is a focus on how we deliver better services to people in the region.

“The report will include full proposals for effective engagement with the public, staff and other stakeholders along with timescales.”