IN the end she took matters into her own hands.

Determined grandmother Nan Thomson checked herself out of hospital rather than be stuck there over Christmas.

We highlighted the plight of the recently-widowed 79-year-old from West Linton in the Peeblesshire News last month.

She faced spending the festive period in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary because the authorities were unable to provide a suitable care package.

The problems were made public due to the persistence of Mrs Thomson’s daughter-in-law Yvonne Thomson who alerted us and the authorities.

Two days after Mrs Thomson left the hospital of her own accord carers suddenly materialised .

Yvonne said: “I was worried that when she signed herself out she was signing away her chance of getting carers.

“So it was a bit of a shock when we got a phone call to say she would be getting emergency carers. I am sure the publicity over this in the Peeblesshire News is the main reason why it was done.” Mrs Thomson went against the advice of doctors when discharging herself from the hospital.

“They didn’t want her to go but there was nothing they could do to stop her,” said her daughter-in-law.

“The doctors and nurses were fantastic but my mother-in-law is determined and stubborn and she just could not bear the thought of being in there any longer.” Popular Mrs Thomson - the Presenting Lady at West Linton’s Whipman Festival this year and a volunteer for 20 years at the village’s Red Cross shop - has received great support from the community since her return.

“We were running about trying to pick up shopping and it was bit traumatic and draining for us when she came home but when people knew she was back everybody in the village rallied round,” said Yvonne.

“I thought she might have to go back to the hospital but it is wonderful the way the neighbours have helped.

“The day after she got back they popped in to make sure she was okay and help her with things such as her eyedrops.” Mrs Thomson’s emergency package consists of two carer visits each day - one of 30 minutes and one of 15 - and the family are still waiting to hear whether any other care package will be arranged.

But the broken shoulder she sustained in a fall last month is improving and she is now able to dress herself.

Mrs Thomson is planning to spend Christmas Day with her son Kevin and Yvonne at their home in Gorebridge but will be back in West Linton in a few days.

“Christmas Day will just be a quiet, normal day for her and she’s not going to stay with us long as she likes to be back in her village,” said Yvonne.

Yvonne is hoping her daughter-in-law’s case will help a war veteran who is facing Christmas in a care home.

In the Peeblesshire News earlier this month we revealed that Robert Beatson, 92, cannot return to his flat in Walkerburn until a suitable care package is put together. Yvonne said: “It’s very sad reading about this gentleman. I just hope that the publicity over my mother-in-law will set the ball rolling in his case.”