Residents in the Borders are being asked to find out more about health issues they face in the future.
'Fact or Fantasy? Your Health 2020' is a report by NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council, exploring what the region's health will be like in 2020.
Students from Walkerburn and Langlee Primary schools are attending a consultation session about the report, looking at what is fact and what is fiction.
A group of motoring enthusiasts have signed an agreement with NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council to help out during severe winter weather.
The Lothian 4 X 4 response group will provide transport to those requiring medical or social care.
Jenny Longden has the full report:
Malcolm Gibson is one of the 30 volunteers with the Lothian 4X4 Response groupHe says:
"If the roads get snowed or flooded, we can sometimes get through where other vehicles can't and we feel we can make a difference to help people get on. 4X4's don't always get the best of press, and we thought we could try to remedy that."
A group of motoring enthusiasts have signed an agreement with NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council to help out during severe winter weather.
The Lothian 4 X 4 response group will provide transport to those requiring medical or social care.
The group will work alongside Lothian and Borders Police, Scottish Ambulance Service, mountain rescue teams and the British Red Cross.
Scottish Borders Council's Emergency Planning Officer Jim Fraser says:
"During any severe weather emergency where transport becomes an issue there exists within the Scottish Borders, a multi-agency severe weather transport group, which is mobilised to the Council HQ in Newtown St Boswells. The objective of this group is to manage all the transport requirements from SBC's Social Work department and NHS Borders. It aims to help anyone who requires assistance within our communities to get to hospital, or to receive medical or social care.
– Jim Fraser , Scottish Borders Council's Emergency Planning Officer"In the winter of 2010 during the heavy snow we identified that a large number of people within our communities needed access to hospital for essential treatment like dialysis and radiotherapy. SBC and NHS staff also require access to communities to provide social and medical care on a daily basis. The transport group triage's the requests to ensure that the available transport is used efficiently and effectively."
Leader of SBC, Councillor David Parker added:
– Councillor David Parker, Leader of Scottish Borders Council"Members of the Lothian 4X4 Group, which is charitable organisation, have the experience and expertise to control these vehicles when conditions can be especially tricky, and they are also fully trained in first aid. This is a great resource which is now available to us in the Scottish Borders so I am very pleased that this agreement is in place."
Managers at NHS Borders are being asked to reconsider plans to close the hydrotherapy pool at Borders General Hospital.
MSP Christine Grahame was contacted by a number of constituents following the revelation that the pool would closed by the end of the year.
– Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame"I was contacted by a senior health professional this week who told me that senior physiotherapists had resigned but the Chief Executive of NHS Borders assures me this is not the case.
"If it had been true it would be an unacceptable position to put members of staff in.
"The health board has suggested that people who currently use the facility, such as those with rheumatoid arthritis, stroke patients and those with cancer, could use their local swimming pool as an alternative but this is simply not an option for most people."
Ms Grahame said she was contacted by several patients, one of who was very upset at the prospect of the unit closing as it had been a vital part of her treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
– Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame"To expect people with this crippling disorder, not to mention those recovering from stroke, to attend a local swimming pool where conditions will be far from ideal, is simply outrageous.
"I believe there will also be an oncology unit built on site so surely a hydrotherapy pool would be an asset, if not a necessity, for such patients' recovery.
"I await a response form NHS Borders on this matter, which is affecting hundreds of people in my constituency alone, let alone the rest of the region."