Peebles medical 'termination' ad apology

The advert was checked but the mistake slipped through

A health centre has apologised after advertising for an administrator with a knowledge of "medical termination".

The recruitment ad for the part-time post was put in a Borders newspaper and should have read "medical terminology".

The Hay Lodge Health Centre in Peebles was alerted to the issue after the wording was questioned by local residents.

Practice manager Margaret Mayer said the ad had been checked but apologised for what was "obviously a mistake".

One pensioner sent a letter to the centre to highlight the problem.

It read: "I was intrigued to read that our local health centre has come up with a new initiative to reduce waiting lists and times.

"In a job advertisement they were seeking to appoint a part-time person skilled in 'medical termination'.

"Presumably only those with Swiss passports need apply."

'Very sorry'

The advertisement was for a post in the health centre's administration department.

"The duties are interesting and variable," it stated.

"The applicant must have excellent keyboard skills and a knowledge of medical termination would be of benefit but not essential."

Ms Mayer said the text had been checked both at the practice and by the newspaper but had somehow "got through unnoticed".

"We asked the people who applied but they did not pick up on it," she said.

"We are very sorry it has happened but it is obviously a mistake."