Borders Emergency Care Service (BECS)
Is the local Primary Care Out-of-Hours Service provider in the NHS Borders area. BECS employs a team of GPs, Out-of-Hours Nurses and Evening Nurses who are supported by a team of Receptionists and Drivers.
The Out-of-Hours Service provides urgent care to patients who cannot wait until their own GP Surgery reopens. The team also provide medical support to the Community Hospitals in the Out-of-Hours period.
The Evening Nurse Service provision is largely a planned care service delivered 7 days per week from 18.00 - 23.00 hrs across the 5 localities of Central, Tweeddale, Hawick, Kelso and Duns.
When is the Out-of-Hours period?
Cover is provided by this service Monday to Friday from 18.00 - 08.00 hrs, and throughout the weekend from a Primary Care Emergency Centre (PCEC) based at Borders General Hospital. BECS covers 8 public holidays per year (including Christmas and New Year), which generally follow the NHS Borders public holiday dates.
What area is covered by BECS?
BECS covers the whole of the Scottish Borders area. A Primary Care Emergency Centre (PCEC) is located at Borders General Hospital in Melrose and it is from here that care is co-ordinated for the whole area apart from patients from West Linton and also those registered with the Biggar practice. Patients from West Linton receive their medical care from Lothian Unscheduled Care Service however nursing care is provided by BECS.
How do I access the service?
If you need URGENT medical care when your local practice is closed, you should telephone NHS 24 on 111. There is no charge to call this freephone number.
You will speak to a Call Handler who will take some details from you and pass your call on to a Nurse Advisor. The Nurse Advisor will make an assessment and recommend a course of action. If required your call will be passed from NHS24 to BECS for either a further assessment, advice or treatment from a local clinician.
You can also visit NHS 24 for general health advice.