Patient dies at Borders General Hospital after contracting Covid
Last updated 4th Dec 2025
A patient in the Department of Medicine for the Elderly at Borders General has died after contracting Covid.
A report being presented to this morning's health board reveals a total of ten outbreaks of the virus were recorded at the hospital between August and October this year - with 39 patients testing positive, and seven members of staff also suspected of having been infected.
NHS Borders confirms a number of bays had to be closed and there was one ward closure.
The details have been published as the Scottish Ambulance Service vaccination bus rolls into the region.
It will be parked in the Waverley Place car park - opposite Scottish Borders Council headquarters - in Newtown St Boswells today (Thursday, between 12pm and 3.30pm) and tomorrow (between 2pm and 3.30pm) for anyone eligible for a flu or Covid vaccination.
There are also drop-in sessions at the Community Hospital in Eyemouth, from 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm today.
Those eligible (flu vaccination only) include: All those aged 65 years and over; frontline health and social care workers; poultry workers & bird handlers; and women who are pregnant.
Both vaccinations are also being offered to everyone aged 75 years and over, and anyone aged six months and over who is immunosuppressed.
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Meanwhile, it's emerged, a surge in the number of flu cases has resulted in some areas of Borders General Hospital being closed to the public.
And locals are being urged to use health services wisely this winter to reduce pressure on emergency services.
Sarah Horan, the local health board's Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, told Greatest Hits Radio: "So far we've had fairly minimal impact on hospital inpatient services; we've had some closures of some areas in wards, but we haven't had to close any complete wards.
"In terms of access and affect on primary care - GPs - we're seeing a definitive uptick in people having consultations, particularly younger people (primary and secondary age), with flu-like and respiratory symptoms."
And she added: "We have significant waits in our ED departments, that is impacted by winter because of seasonal illness. So, we're always looking to the public to help and support us so the service, if you need to be in the emergency department, is there and can be responsive for you."
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NHS Borders is also launching a new five-year clinical strategy aimed at ensuring its services meet the changing needs of the local population, when it meets at Borders College in Galashiels this morning.
Its ambitions include opening a dedicated frailty unit at Borders General Hospital, rolling out a safe digital prescribing system, and redesigning models of care to consider alternatives to admission.
And, with up to 20 per cent of hospital admissions linked to medicines, it also wants all patients on four or more to have had a medicine review, something believed to affect more than 19,000 patients.
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/