Jedburgh residents have protested against hospital closure plans

South of Scotland Conservative MSP Derek Brownlee has backed a Holyrood motion lodged by the Scottish National Party opposing any such plans.

SNP South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame's motion calls for the needs of communities to be recognised and for any closure moves to be refused.

NHS Borders is holding meetings across the region to gauge public opinion.

Ms Grahame's motion highlights local opposition to the proposals - hundreds of people have turned out at recent rallies against the plans.

She added that the increasingly elderly population should mean more health facilities in the area rather than less.

Mr Brownlee has given his backing to the motion and called on other parties to give their support.

'Increasingly inefficient'

"The level of public concern in Jedburgh and Coldstream should not be underestimated," he said.

"I've been very impressed by the amount of work undertaken by those trying to save the hospitals."

NHS Borders said the Jedburgh hospital was no longer suitable for modern health care and would become increasingly inefficient to run.

It said there were similar problems at Coldstream where the age and layout of the hospital made the delivery of up-to-date care very difficult.