NHS Borders is warning that its emergency department is "currently very busy with sick patients".

The health board has urged residents to call 111 if they require advice or treatment for non-life threatening conditions.

In a statement issued at 11.57am today (Friday, January 29), a spokesperson for NHS Borders said: "The emergency department [ED] at the BGH [Borders General Hospital] is currently very busy with sick patients who require specialist emergency care.

"If you need health advice or treatment for non-life threatening conditions, please call NHS 24 first on 111, day or night.

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"NHS 24 will assess you by telephone and refer you to the right care at the right place. 

"This could include self-care, GP practice or primary care, community pharmacy or referral into the flow centre at the BGH for a clinical assessment. 

"This will avoid you having to make any unnecessary trips to hospital and it also ensures that our specialists in the emergency department are available to treat people who require emergency medical care for life threatening conditions.

"If you do require urgent medical care at the ED, please be patient. 

"We are attending to patients as soon as we can however you may have to wait longer than you would normally expect; and patients will be treated according to clinical priority.

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"Please come to the department alone if you are able to. 

"The waiting room currently has limited capacity due to physical distancing measures, so this will allow us to keep as much space free as possible for patients.

"If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 please do not attend the ED. 

"You should phone NHS 24 on 111 and if the NHS 24 healthcare professional you speak to deems that you require further clinical assessment you will be directed to the appropriate care.

"It is important that if you think you have a genuine life threatening emergency you should still call 999 as you did before or come to the emergency department, where our team will be able provide you with emergency medical care.

"Please help us to keep you and our NHS safe by making the right call, at the right time, to access the right care for you and your family."

Further information can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/right-care-right-place