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Performance in 2017-18 at Borders General Hospital was 92.9% (Apr 17 – Mar 18). The latest monthly data for November 2018 show performance was 96.5%. The number of patients spending over four hours in A&E was the lowest level since 2015.

The latest published weekly stats show performance for week ending 20 January was 94.5%. Weekly data shows performance throughout December and January has been significantly higher than the previous year. A programme of activities is underway across Scotland through the unscheduled care improvement programme to ensure sustainable performance is maintained.

The Scottish Government continues to work with the local team in NHS Borders to help implement a number of initiatives for unscheduled care and ensuring best practice is installed throughout the hospital system. In 2018-19 NHS Borders has received £324,039 to support improvements and winter planning.

Information on the number of instances of theft that have occurred in hospitals is not held centrally. Where a hospital-based theft is reported to the police, this will be included in the Recorded Crime in Scotland National Statistics. However, the figures provided to the Scottish Government by Police Scotland are a simple count of the number of crimes and offences recorded in each local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics or circumstances of individual crimes and offences, such as the location.

The Scottish Government has commissioned research into the incidence, impact and potential mitigation of sheep harassment by both dogs and wildlife in Scotland. Whilst this does not focus solely on the Scottish Borders, information and recommendations arising from the research should be useful to sheep farmers in the area.

The Scottish Government has commissioned research into the incidence, impact and potential mitigation of sheep harassment by both dogs and wildlife in Scotland. Whilst this does not focus solely on Midlothian, information and recommendations arising from the research should be useful to sheep farmers in the area.

Information on the number of instances of violence in schools is not held centrally. Where a school-based incident of violence is reported to the police, this will be included in the Recorded Crime National Statistics. However, the figures provided to the Scottish Government by Police Scotland are a simple count of the number of crimes and offences recorded in each local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics or circumstances of individual crimes and offences, such as the location.

Information on cases of sheep worrying is not held centrally in the format requested. Information is available on the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 – which relates to dogs worrying livestock on agricultural land (following table). However, as this legislation applies to all forms of livestock, these figures are not available for specific types of animal.

Table 1: Offences of Protection of Livestock from Dogs, Scottish Borders, 2013-14 to 2017-18.

Dog attacks on sheep, wherever they occur, is an issue that the Scottish Government takes very seriously. We fully support the work to tackle this matter being undertaken by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), chaired by Police Scotland, including their 5 month campaign to highlight the issue, launched on 8 January 2019. We have also commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake research investigating the incidence and impact of dog attacks on sheep in Scotland and looking at potential strategies to prevent it happening.

Information on the number of instances of violence in schools is not held centrally. Where a school-based incident of violence is reported to the police, this will be included in the Recorded Crime National Statistics. However, the figures provided to the Scottish Government by Police Scotland are a simple count of the number of crimes and offences recorded in each local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics or circumstances of individual crimes and offences, such as the location.

Dog attacks on sheep, wherever they occur, is an issue that the Scottish Government takes very seriously. We fully support the work to tackle this matter being undertaken by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), chaired by Police Scotland, including their 5 month campaign to highlight the issue, launched on 8 January 2019. We have also commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake research investigating the incidence and impact of dog attacks on sheep in Scotland and looking at potential strategies to prevent it happening.

Information on the number of instances of violence in schools is not held centrally. Where a school-based incident of violence is reported to the police, this will be included in the Recorded Crime National Statistics. However, the figures provided to the Scottish Government by Police Scotland are a simple count of the number of crimes and offences recorded in each local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics or circumstances of individual crimes and offences, such as the location.