Legal avenue for hospital fight

Campaigners claim that hospital bed figures were incorrect

The campaign to save Jedburgh Cottage Hospital could be taken to the courts.

A group which opposed the closure says it may seek a judicial review of the processes which resulted in Health Minister Andy Kerr endorsing the plan.

George Burt, of the Jedburgh Alliance, said there were serious flaws in both the consultation process and in the statistics given by NHS Borders.

In making his decision Mr Kerr said services could not stand still and had to look at the way they were delivered.

Mr Burt disputed figures which claimed that 15% of community hospital beds were in the Borders, which has only 2% of the population.

He believes that information such as this affected the health minister's decision.

No dissent

"I think there were factors which influenced his decision," Mr Burt said.

"There was no dissension in the decision made by NHS Borders by the board members.

"We think they were misled in many respects on statistical information," he added.

The cottage hospital in Coldstream is also to close under the plans.