ONE of the aims of a major review of in-patient care in the region is to cut bed occupancy at the Borders General Hospital.

And the four community hospitals in Hawick, Kelso, Peebles and Duns will play a key role in achieving that reduction.

That is the view of Dr Sheena MacDonald, NHS Borders Medical Director, as she reacted last week to figures released under Freedom of Information to local Conservative MSP John Lamont.

These reveal that in the BGH over the last 12 months, an average of 82% of all acute beds was occupied.

However, occupancy was considerably higher in general medicine (95%) and in elderly medicine (98%) with the latter peaking at 100% in January and February of this year.

“Such high levels mean patients do not receive the standard of care they need and can lead them to being moved into wards which may not be appropriate for the care they require,” claimed Mr Lamont.

And he cited Dr Neil Dewhurst, outgoing president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, who believed 85% was the maximum safe occupancy level at which patients could be treated.

“These figures highlight how busy NHS services are in the Borders and that staff are doing all they can to deliver care in challenging conditions,” said Mr Lamont.

“That is why it is right that NHS Borders is looking at how best to deliver its services and recognises the need to reduce the numbers of patients coming to the BGH and to treat more patients in the community.

“These figures also highlight what a huge mistake it would be to close down our busy community hospitals.” Over the year, the average occupancy in the four community hospitals, which each have 23 non-acute beds, was as follows: Knoll (Duns) 82%, Hawick 94%, Kelso 96% and Hay Lodge (Peebles) 89%.

Dr MacDonald told the Border Telegraph: “People in the Borders are hopefully now aware that we are testing each of our services against key principles, one of which is that our services will be safe, effective and of high quality.

“We can always do better for our patients and there are challenges ahead that will require different thinking. So, that’s why we are reviewing all of our clinical services - beginning with in-patient services.

“One of our aims is to reduce our occupancy levels through avoiding unnecessary admission and supporting more timely care nearer home.

“Community hospitals are an integral and important part of this. Our excellent staff are working hard… to support the increasing demand on our services and, this winter, an increase in hospital admissions.

“I support them as we move forward on our review and on our improvement plans for those at the heart of our services - our patients and the increasing number of adults and older people with complex and numerous illnesses.”