Coldstream Cottage Hospital could become a dental centre

Health Minister Andy Kerr said services could not stand still and had to look at the way they were delivered.

Under the plans, Sister Margaret Cottage Hospital in Jedburgh and Coldstream Cottage Hospital will close.

Inpatient activity from the two sites is to be absorbed by the Hawick, Kelso and Duns community hospitals.

Residents in both towns have campaigned vigorously to retain the hospitals.

Mr Kerr said he had taken their arguments on board but that health services had to progress.

"The NHS cannot stand still," he said.

"It is vital for the health of communities that all boards look carefully at how they deliver services and examine how they can deliver them in better ways."

I have been aware for some time of the depth of feeling which exists about these proposals, and of the strong local attachment to the two hospitals in question Andy Kerr Health Minister

The minister said population projections for the Borders indicated people would live longer but suffer more chronic conditions.

He said that meant services needed to be built around "continuing and preventative" intervention rather than acute emergency inpatient care.

"I have been aware for some time of the depth of feeling which exists about these proposals, and of the strong local attachment to the two hospitals in question," said Mr Kerr.

He said that he hoped to see work start soon on the development of the Jedburgh community health centre.

Mr Kerr added that the Coldstream site should be considered for a dental centre in future.

Extensive consultation

The announcement was welcomed by NHS Borders chairman Tony Taylor.

He said it would see a redesign of the service including �12m of capital spent on modernising facilities and �2.7m of recurring expenditure to run services.

"It is also pleasing to note the confirmation that the extensive consultation exercise we embarked upon was properly and appropriately undertaken," he said.

The way in which the closures was handled has been backed by the Scottish Health Council chairman Brian Beacom.

"We have reviewed the evidence and found that NHS Borders took sufficient steps to involve patients and public in the redesign process," he said.

Services at Borders General Hospital will modernise under the plans

However, there has been criticism of the move by some local politicians.

Euan Robson, Lib Dem MSP for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, expressed his disappointment and said he would monitor the impact of the closures.

"I am particularly sorry for patients and staff at this outcome," he said.

"Campaigners in both towns and the action groups have done a superb job which I have been privileged to back from the start and throughout."

South of Scotland Tory MSP Derek Brownlee said the Borders had been let down by the health minister.

"The timing of this annoucement is utterly cynical," he said.

"There is a clear attempt to 'bury bad news' behind the publicity on the debate on the Waverley Railway Bill later today."

SNP MSP Christine Grahame said: "It demonstrates that the consultation over the cottage hospitals which was undertaken and which was meant to listen to local views was little more than a whitewash.