BOSSES at cash-strapped NHS Borders are set to pull the plug on their own switchboard.

The latest cost-cutting plan comes just weeks after the doors were locked on the gynaecology ward at Borders General Hospital.

And many more cuts are expected as the board attempts to balance the books.

The current financial plan being worked to at NHS Borders has a set target of £12.4 million in efficiencies.

Having already been bailed out with a £10.1 million payment from the Scottish Government last year, NHS Borders is forecast to to record another huge overspend in 2019/20.

And even with an expected additional £9.3 million bail-out this year from Holyrood, there is still a forecast shortfall which runs into the millions.

Savings have already been made with the closure of Ward 16 earlier this month as part of a bed management review.

And now it has been revealed that the switchboard is on the hit list for further cuts.

Although NHS chiefs have denied that any final decision has been made, an insider told us: "We have been told that the switchboard service will be done from Edinburgh in the near future.

"The way things are at Borders General Hospital just now, nothing is safe."

The Borders General Hospital switchboard provides telephony cover for 12 wards, more than 20 specialist departments as well as administration, personnel, pharmacy and many other services.

A spokeswoman for the health board explained the switchboard closure is one of several options being considered to save money.

She told us: "One idea, out of many hundreds, which is being considered is about how our switchboard at the Borders General Hospital operates.

"There are a number of options being explored to see if this service could be redesigned to ensure that it meets our service demands while making the best use of our resources.

"An assessment of the feasibility of this idea is being carried out in consultation with the Information, Management &Technology department, Facilities, our partnership colleagues and senior management.

"No decision to change the way in which switchboard operates has been taken.”

Reviews are currently taking place across the NHS Borders estate to identify potential savings.

The spokeswoman added: "We are currently looking across the organisation to identify where we can safely make savings in order to achieve the £12.4 million target in our annual financial plan."

NHS Borders operates a no redundancy policy so there will be no compulsory job losses.