15 February 2016
Going into the weekend the BGH was experiencing exceptional pressure on bed availability.
The public response to our reminder that you should only go to A&E if you are an emergency was extremely supportive and we were able to maintain our focus on the safe discharge of patients to give us as much space as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation.
We anticipate the continuation of high demand for beds in the BGH and Community Hospitals this week, with icy conditions making slips, trips and falls more likely. In addition, Ward 12 is currently closed to admissions as a precaution due to a number of patients experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.
Visitors to Ward 12 are therefore strongly discouraged at this time, and relatives and carers are asked to carefully consider their visits to the hospital. The general advice is to stay away from any hospital ward if you or anyone in your family has experienced symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the past 48 hours.
Please remember that your community pharmacists are available to provide expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and ailments, and to give advice about your medicines.
If you or someone you care for is unwell and your GP surgery is closed, contact the NHS 24 helpline on 111. If the condition is immediately life-threatening, dial 999 for an emergency ambulance.
For further updates, please visit the NHS Borders website.