12 March 2026
The Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Tom Arthur MSP, visited NHS Borders yesterday to see first-hand how our expanded Home First and Hospital at Home services are helping more people receive the right care, in the right place - their own homes.
During his visit to the Borders General Hospital, the Minister met staff working across Hospital at Home, the Frailty Unit and the Integrated Discharge Team, learning how these services work together to support people to avoid unnecessary hospital stays, leave hospital sooner when they are ready and recover safely at home with care tailored to what matters most to them.
Home First supports people who no longer need to be in hospital but would benefit from short-term help to regain confidence and independence at home. Through reablement and rehabilitation, teams work alongside people and their families to support daily living and help them return to their usual routines as safely and confidently as possible. This approach gives people time to acknowledge and recover before longer-term decisions are made, where needed.
Hospital at Home complements this by providing hospital-level treatment in people’s own homes when admission to hospital can be safely avoided. Multidisciplinary teams deliver clinical care, monitoring and treatment at home, allowing people to recover in familiar surroundings while maintaining the same standards of safety and quality they would expect in hospital.
During the visit, the Minister also heard about the role of the Frailty Unit and the Integrated Discharge Team in supporting timely, person-centred discharge, with a strong focus on the Home First approach. Together, these services help create a more joined-up experience, reduce pressure on hospital beds and ensure people receive the right level of support based on their individual needs.
The final stop on the Minister’s visit was to Hawick Community Hospital where he spoke to staff and viewed the planned location of the recently announced pilot Walk-In Clinic, scheduled to open at the end of April.
The service, which will be funded as part of a national Scottish Government initiative, will provide same day assessment for minor illness and urgent care needs without the need for an appointment.
The Walk-In Clinic is designed to complement existing NHS Borders services, not replace them, by helping manage urgent demand, reduce pressure on practices and improve access times for patients.
Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, said: “I was pleased to see the difference these services are making by enabling people to receive crucial hospital treatments in the comfort of their own home.
“Hospital at Home shows what is possible when we redesign care around people rather than buildings. This work is not only transforming services – it is transforming lives.”
Gareth Clinkscale, Interim Director of Urgent Care, Community Services and Mental Health at NHS Borders, said: “The Minister’s visit was a valuable opportunity to showcase the dedication and innovation of our teams. Every day we see the difference our services make when people can be cared for at home or supported to return home sooner. Being in familiar surroundings - sleeping in your own bed, eating your own food and being close to loved ones and pets - can make recovery feel more manageable and less daunting. By focusing on what matters to each person and supporting them to do more for themselves, we’re helping people regain confidence, independence and a sense of control over their care and recovery.”
Home First and Hospital at Home services are delivered seven days a week by integrated teams working closely with district nursing, allied health professionals, social work and care at home services. Referrals are made when clinically appropriate and based on individual needs, ensuring people receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
If you, or someone you care for, think Home First or Hospital at Home may be right for you, please speak to your care team. They will be happy to discuss whether the service would be appropriate for your needs.